The route of the Penwortham Bypass. Click to see it bigger.

A key route aimed at cutting congestion through Penwortham and the south of Preston has been agreed.

Penwortham Bypass now has its provisional route confirmed and locked down by planners at Lancashire County Council.

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The multi-million pound route runs from a new roundabout near Horwick Church of England School through to the Broad Oak Roundabout on the A582 Golden Way.

The A59 will get a direct link to the Cuerden junction for the M6, M65 and M61. Currently traffic has to go through Penwortham before doubling back onto the Golden Way.

County councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, has agreed the proposed route and it is now to be protected from development.

He said: “Protecting the route from development is a vital step towards delivering the bypass and the benefits it would bring.

“I’m grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation which showed a strong consensus for completing the Penwortham Bypass with a connection to the A59.

“We will consider the issued raised by local people very carefully as plans progress. Many of the things people asked us to look at are only able to be addressed at the detailed design stage and there will be further informal and formal consultation as the scheme is developed.”

A full planning application for the new road is due to be tabled by Spring next year and the road itself could open in 2018.

Councillor Cliff Hughes, South Ribble Borough Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for strategic planning and housing, said: “This is an important step forward in delivering this long-awaited bypass scheme which will not only reduce congestion but also allow for significant improvements to the town centre.

“This route has the benefit of being shorter, of not requiring the demolition of any houses and, looking to the future, of providing a more direct link to a potential future bridge over the River Ribble. The new bridge is of course very important in supporting economic growth in the area and beyond.”

The Penwortham bypass is funded by the City Deal which is pumping £434 million into major infrastructure projects in Preston and South Ribble.

Completion of the Penwortham bypass would also be a step towards the creation of a new bridge over the River Ribble.

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