Preparation work under way on £150m Lancashire road improvement scheme
Work on £150m bypass and junction improvements along the A585, near Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, is getting into its stride after government approval last month.
Highways England’s Windy Harbour to Skippool improvement – which will ease journeys along one of the busiest sections of the A585 between the M55 and Fleetwood – was approved by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on April 9, after a planning inspectorate examination last year.
Highways England’s senior project manager, Jonathan Stokes, said: “The new road and associated improvements will tackle existing congestion, help secure and improve opportunities for housing and jobs, and contribute to improved connections to the motorway network.
“While it will be several months before local people and other road users will be able to see very much going on along the route, we’ll be producing a regular project newsletter to keep people informed.”
Although significant roadworks are several months away, key preparation work has started, with construction workers operating to government guidance related to the coronavirus outbreak.
The work includes constructing a project site office and continuing archaeological investigations along the path of the 70mph dual carriageway new bypass south of Little Singleton.
To mark the start of the work, the first project newsletter has just been published and is being delivered to thousands of homes across the area.
Future editions will be published online on the project webpage where anyone interested in the work can also sign up for regular free email alerts. Anyone with questions can email the project team at a585windyharbourtoskippool@highwaysengland.co.uk
The new road and improvements to the junctions at Windy Harbour and Skippool are expected to take about three years.
Work will initially be undertaken away from the existing road before moving on to reconfiguring the existing junction at Skippool and creating new junctions at Skippool bridge and Garstang Road.
Finally, the existing route will be converted to a local road with enhanced provision for walking and cycling.
