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£114m water pipe project to cause disruption
A multi-million pound project to dig a tunnel under Preston will bring three years of disruption to motorists.
United Utilities will be constructing five miles of pipes and tunnels at a cost of 114m, to stop waste water flowing into the River Ribble.
The scheme, one of the biggest ever seen in Preston, will see tunnels dug up to 100ft below the streets of the city to hold excess water during storms.
A new pumping station will also be built in Penwortham to transport the waste water to treatment works at Clifton Marsh.
But the project, which will last three years, will cause severe disruption to commuters around Fishergate Hill, Strand Road and Watery Lane.
Project manager Andrew Kennedy, from United Utilities, said: "This will provide great benefits to the estuary and bathing beaches as the quality of life for species on the Fylde coast improves."
But he said disruption to motorists would be "considerable".
He added: "We are working to produce a traffic management plan that best suits the city. We have three construction sites but we are not allowed to open them all at once."
Three shafts will be dug at Watery Lane, Marsh Lane and Fishergate Hill to allow digging machines to travel 26m underground to create a tunnel between the sites.
Mr Kennedy said he was working with officers from Lancashire County Council to keep Preston moving.
One-way systems, diversions and temporary lights may all be used while the work is carried out.
From Preston the pipes will travel under the river to a new pumping station in Penwortham, before passing beneath farmland and the river to Clifton Marsh.
The tunnels will follow the paths of existing roads and will not travel under buildings apart from those owned by United Utilities. Restoration will also be carried out after the underground work is complete.
The project has been planned to help the river comply with European legislation on bathing water quality.
Once complete, improvements should be seen to shellfish waters along the estuary and to beaches at Southport, Ainsdale, St Annes and Blackpool.
Coun Ken Hudson, leader of Preston Council, said benefits to the city and the river would outweigh any problems during construction.
He said: "We don't like roadworks but it is essential the river is cleaned up and it may help tackle the algae at Preston Dock.
"I hope officers can manage the situation and keep disruption to a minimum."
Planning applications will be submitted to Lancashire County Council later this year and work is due to begin in the autumn.
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Weather for Preston
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
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