More disruption to Preston city centre motorists is expected from next Monday.
AdvertisementA further stage of the Fishergate project sees the traffic lights where Corporation Street and Butler Street meet Fishergate being removed.
This set of roadworks means the right hand turn from Fishergate into Corporation Street will be blocked off until the end of August.
A statement from Lancashire County Council said: “This completion date has been pushed back a month, due to the technical complexities of the project and the difficulties of working in a city centre and still allowing traffic to flow. Drivers will be signposted down Bow Lane to reach Ringway. The traffic light timings at Fishergate/Bow Lane and Bow Lane/Ringway will be adjusted to cater for the changes.”
It has also been announced from Monday 31 March for between three to four weeks one side of Ringway will be reduced to one lane during off-peak hours. This will be between approximately 9.15am to 3.45pm.
The county council say this is to complete a set of improvements to the pavements on the stretch outside the Hill Street car park, from Staples to the Old Black Bull.
John Fillis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We are conscious that this work will inevitably cause some disruption and I would ask people to be patient and focus on the long-term benefits that this £3.4million investment will have in terms of making Preston city centre a more pleasant place to be and attracting investment, jobs and prosperity.
“Preston plays a key role in Lancashire’s economy so new jobs and investment have a positive impact on the rest of the county. Transforming Fishergate is the first phase of a longer term strategy that we’re working on with Preston City Council to develop the city centre and surrounding area.”
Keith Mitchell, centre manager of the Fishergate Shopping Centre and a committee member of the Business Information District, said: “Anyone who has been into Preston city centre recently will have seen the scale of the work that is being carried out as part of this ambitious project. At the top end of Fishergate we can start to see how the area will look as the roadway and pavements are completed and when the trees are planted it will look even better. I’m more aware than anyone of the disruption we are experiencing at the moment but I am convinced that the end result will be worth it.”
The 111, 115 and park and ride bus services are continuing to run from outside the Fishergate Shopping Centre. At the end of the roadworks they will move to outside the railway station.
What do you think? Have you been affected by the roadworks? Let us know in the comments below