South Ribble dual carriageway should be built in one go, say councillors

The proposed widening of two of South Ribble’s busiest routes should be rolled out as a single project and not done in “piecemeal fashion”.
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That was the message from South Ribble Borough Council to highways bosses, ahead of the process to approve plans to turn the A582 and a section of the B5253 into dual carriageways.

The authority’s planning committee has also called for a long-discussed revamp of the intersection known as ‘Tiger junction’ – the often congested point at which Longmeanygate, Leyland Lane and Golden Hill Lane meet – to be brought forward to tie-in with the wider improvements.

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The so-called South Ribble Western Distributor scheme would see two lanes created in each direction from the A582’s junction with the A6 and along Lostock Lane, Farington Way and Flensburg Way through to the ‘tank roundabout’; and from Penwortham Way to just before the Broad Oak roundabout.

Penwortham Way, which would be turned into a dual acrriageway under the plans (image: Google Streetview)Penwortham Way, which would be turned into a dual acrriageway under the plans (image: Google Streetview)
Penwortham Way, which would be turned into a dual acrriageway under the plans (image: Google Streetview)

The B5253 stretch of Flensburg Way from the Farington household waste recycling centre to Longmeanygate would also be turned into a dual carriageway under the plans.

Lancashire County Council – which would undertake the work – also has the final say over whether to give the project the green light, via its independent development control committee. A planning application is being prepared for submission later this year, as part of which South Ribble’s planning committee has been consulted.

Members have backed the project – which they say will “reduce standing traffic and associated emissions” – but said that the scheme must be implemented in full “to ensure benefits across the whole area”.

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They also welcomed the inclusion of a shared cycleway along the four-and-a-half-mile route, but have demanded an assurance from County Hall that it will be maintained in order to encourage its use.

Planning committee chair, Caleb Tomlinson, said members had been “keen to scrutinise the planning proposals”.

“Our environmental health team have made important suggestions, which they have done particularly with regards air quality which is obviously, and rightly, a huge concern for this council.

“Despite adding our own recommendations, we were nevertheless pleased to note the contents of the county council’s Environmental Assessment reports which accompany their application.

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“We were also extremely encouraged to read about the positive effects that this work will undoubtedly have on roads and travel around South Ribble; namely, improved journey times and reduced congestion; easier access to Cuerden from the west; and significantly improved access to new housing developments.

“We are glad that this work is now taking place to better connect South Ribble, ease congestion and reduce journey times,” Cllr Tomlinson added.

It is hoped that agreement can be reached with landowners to acquire the necessary plots to make the widening possible, but Lancashire County Council last year agreed to use compulsory purchase powers if necessary.

The project is one of the key road schemes under the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal, but full funding for the upgraded route is yet to be confirmed.

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Last year, it was included on a list of projects submitted to the government by Transport for the North, seeking £50m towards the cost of the scheme. However, unlike the Preston Western Distributor, connecting Blackpool Road to the M55, it was not granted the cash to begin construction immediately – and nor was it handed development funding.

Other elements to the proposed scheme include the conversion of the Longmeanygate/Flensburg Way roundabout – the location of Bobby the Iron Horse – to a signal-controlled junction; the removal of the double roundabout at the junction of Croston Road and Flensburg Way and the installation of traffic lights; and new signals at the junction of Sherdley Road and Farington Road.

Widening work which has taken place at junctions along the A582 in recent years – at intersections including Pope Lane – was intended for the eventual dualling of the entire route.

If the South Ribble Western Distributor is ultimately approved, construction is expected to take around 27 months.