Following a project to widen the road in 2012, numerous properties were demolished to facilitate the route becoming dual carriageway, which in 2008 was described as being one of Merseyside's "biggest traffic bottlenecks" into the city centre as a result of rush hour congestion.

Heavy traffic of coal resulted in the Prescot section of the road falling into a state of disrepair, as noted by the first Act of Parliament dealing with the highway in 1745.

[6] Gores directory of Liverpool from 1825 and 1827 show houses being occupied by a mixture of merchants and gentry rather than workers of a single predominant trade.

The 1881 census further suggests a diverse mixture of residents, including merchants, teachers and journalists, a trend that continued into the side streets.

For the widening to be viable, 371 houses were compulsory purchased by Liverpool City Council to be demolished in order for the project to take place, to be replaced with 188 new homes.

[20] Former Leader of Liverpool City Council, Warren Bradley, suggested that the scheme to regenerate the Edge Lane area had the overwhelming support of residents.

The second High Court challenge was dismissed in March 2009, allowing the compulsory purchase of remaining properties and for the scheme to go ahead.