The amended route for the Penwortham Bypass

The final route for the Penwortham Bypass has now been reached by planners.

Confirmation that a roundabout has been removed from where the road will meet the A59 has been given.

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Original routes showed a roundabout, with traffic lights, at Howick.

However Lancashire County Council ditched this after a ‘detailed technical analysis’ showed a traffic light controlled junction would be easier and not need as much land to complete.

The Bypass is due to cost £17.5m and run from the Broad Oak roundabout to Howick, allowing traffic to avoid going through the centre of Penwortham.

City Deal project manager Phill Wilson said: “The route for the bypass was approved in March last year. Since then we’ve been carrying out detailed design work and further traffic modelling.

“As part of the design work, we’ve listened to the concerns from the public during the public consultation in late 2014 and amended the bypass proposals, which were agreed at the Cabinet Member’s decision making session earlier today.

“The new proposals would see the new bypass continuing from the dual carriageway on the A59, with a traffic signal-controlled junction linking to Liverpool Road.

“This will mean a reduced land take and a simpler crossing arrangement for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also promote the bypass as the obvious choice for through traffic, rather than travelling through the town.

“The more traffic we can take off Liverpool Road, the more we can do through Penwortham to enhance the public realm and prioritise buses, cyclists and pedestrians. In turn these measures will put off drivers using this section of Liverpool Road as a through-route into and out of Preston.

“The proposals will still need to go for planning approval, but this is a step in the process of getting the bypass approved and construction getting underway in summer 2017.”

There are still ongoing discussions with landowners near the Broad Oak roundabout to resolve how more lanes can be added for where you leave the roundabout onto Golden Way.

What do you think of the route? Do you live in the area? Let us know your views in the comments below