MORE than a million pounds is to be spent on improving Runcorn's roads.

The work is aimed at revitalising commercial activity in the area and relates to three schemes due to start during 1997/98.

Funding from the Single Regeneration Budget will cover the entire costs of extensions to St Paul's car park and the Water Street access scheme as well as part fund extensions to Mersey Road.

From a total project cost of £270,000, some £215,000 will be made available this financial year for improvements to St Paul's car park with the money being used to buy land next to the E D Williams property.

This will be used to extend the existing car park by 150 spaces.

Work is expected to start on this project during the summer while later in the year work will begin on the Water Street access. This is taking £110,000 out of an allocated £270,000 aimed at removing service vehicles from Church Street.

The road scheme will form a link with Mersey Road and allow the closure of the King Street link with Church Street.

A turning circle will be created at the junction with King Street along with improved parking for residents.

Towards the end of this financial year, work is expected to start on extensions to Mersey Road with around £80,000 being available at the outset.

The scheme will upgrade, improve and extend Mersey Road into the Dukesfield housing area by providing a new road through the arches.

It will make an attractive promenade road to link the new housing to the town centre at a total cost of £660,000.

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