Penwortham bypass roundabout plan to be scrapped

A new road link, designed to take traffic away from the centre of Penwortham, will be presented for approval at County Hall on Tuesday.

Members of the executive scrutiny committee will be asked to give the green light to an amended route for the road which will link the A582 at Broad Oak roundabout with the main A59 Liverpool Road at Howick Cross.

The major change will see a traffic light junction instead of a roundabout where the new road meets the A59 near to the Howick CE Primary School.

A report to be presented to the committee tomorrow says: “The junction with the A59 at Howick was originally proposed to be a roundabout. Detailed analysis has permitted this to change to a traffic signal controlled T-junction.

“There are advantages to this layout in that there is reduced land take, removing any requirement north of the A59 and reducing the area of the school playing field on the southern side.

“Additionally the movements and number of road crossings required by pedestrians and cyclists to navigate the junction is reduced.”

The report says the new road link should improve access from the A59 to the motorway network allowing traffic to bypass Penwortham, or Preston city centre. It will reduce traffic in Penwortham, which “experiences very significant peak hour congestion.”

It should also allow measures to promote walking and cycling in the town centre and provide opportunities for bus priority on the A59, including the potential for Park and Ride.

The link is one of four major road schemes identified in a transport masterplan for Central Lancashire.

A comprehensive study revealed that major house-building schemes in North West Preston and along the A582/B5253 in South Ribble meant that the current transport network in the area would not be able to cope with future demands.