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Blackspot work to get underway
Gridlocked: Work will start at the Broughton roundabout on Monday
Congestion-busting roadworks to open up one of Preston’s worst congestion black spots is to get underway.
Lancashire County Council has confirmed it will start the £2.6m work on improvements to the roundabout at the M55/A6 junction at Broughton on Monday.
It will take up to five months to complete and will see the A6 road widened to get cars onto the motorway easier.
The council has also revealed it has started work on developing its planning application for the controversial Broughton bypass which would cut through fields and homes to take traffic away from the area.
County Coun Tim Ashton, cabinet member for highways, said: “Broughton roundabout is a key gateway for the north of Preston and this investment is vital to ensure people’s journeys do not become unmanageable as traffic levels continue to grow.
“We are already planning for the further improvements to our transport infrastructure that will be needed to support future economic growth in this area, which are outlined in the Highways Masterplan for Central Lancashire.
“This scheme is the first in that plan to become a reality and, while there will be some disruption in the short term while the work takes place, it is essential if we are to keep traffic moving and avoid Broughton becoming gridlocked.”
The improvements will see an extra lane solely for motorway traffic added to the northbound and southbound A6, upgrades to traffic signals, further traffic signals at the junction of Eastway and Garstang Road and new pedestrian crossings in the area.
The council confirmed it expects to submit a new planning application for the Broughton bypass by July, as first revealed by the Evening Post in December.
It has started work with landowners in the area and spoken to house-builders which will foot the bill for the work.
A spokesman said it expected to have “detailed engineering drawings” for the application in place by the end of the year.
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Weather for Preston
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
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