Work on the A582 is part of a plan to blow congestion away on the route into Preston

Congestion-busting plans to turn a key route to and from Preston into dual carriageway are being put out to the public.

The A582 is due to be upgraded to have two lanes along its full length between Cuerden and the city centre, as well as from the B5253 south to Longmeanygate.

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New cycleways are also being planned to run alongside the upgraded road.

Lancashire County Council want to spend £2.5 million creating a 3 metre-wide shared cycle and footway along the length of the widened road.

County Councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The funding we’ve received through the City Deal will allow us to make sure our transport infrastructure supports the extra traffic we can expect in the future as new jobs and houses are created.

“The A582 in its current form as a single carriageway does not have the capacity it will need in future and widening it to a dual carriageway is a real priority.

“We have also taken cycling into consideration and will be putting in place a dedicated off-road cycleway as well as taking particular care to ensure the design of junctions reduces the risks to cyclists.

“Our options for how to widen the A582 are limited taking into account the engineering, physical and environmental constraints of the existing road, however there are decisions to make about aspects such as which side to widen it on and we’d like to hear people’s views.”

A series of events are due to take place in January and February during the six weeks consultation, with dates and times for the consultation events due to be confirmed soon.

Funding for the widening comes from the £430 million war chest, called the City Deal, which is cash for upgrading Preston and South Ribble’s infrastructure.

Councillor Peter Mullineaux, deputy leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: “The City Deal will pave the way for further investment in our town centres and public spaces, and this project to widen the A582 is vital to make sure opportunities for our residents can be delivered.

“The improvements to cycling infrastructure are particularly exciting. They are a good example of the kind of benefits to people’s lifestyles and the sustainable growth of our area which will flow from the City Deal.

“This investment will make cycling a much more attractive option for those who want to commute by bike and anyone who would like to make a short journey without using their car.”

The proposed roadworks on the A582 follow work at Chain House Lane and Golden Way.

Golden Way roadworks are still ongoing to dual its northern section from Cop Lane.

What do you think about the A582 being widened? Do you use the route? Let us know in the comments below