The amended route for the Penwortham Bypass

A roundabout as part of the Penwortham bypass is now unlikely to happen.

The long-mooted link from the A59 at Howick to the Broad Oak roundabout on the A582 has amended plans for its route.

Previous plans, agreed in March last year, showed a roundabout at Howick on the A59 but highways officers want to replace this with a signal controlled junction.

County councillors on the executive scrutinyy committee of Lancashire County Council are to be asked on Tuesday to approve the amended bypass route.

They are being recommended to:
Replace the proposed junction on the A59 with a signal controlled T-junction, instead of the original roundabout. They sa this will have improved and simpler pedestrian and cycling facilities and reduce the amount of land needed for the bypass.

Concerns were raised about the impact of a roundabout on the A59 during the public consultation held last year.

They also want to increase the size of the Broad Oak roundabout where the A582 joins it to the North, to allow it to cope with increased traffic.

One homeowner near the roundabout is expected to put in a ‘blight claim’ for compensation as they will lose land due to the county council needing four lanes on the Preston exit of the roundabout compared to two.

The congestion-busting bypass is funded as part of the City Deal, a £430m investment in new roads and homes in Preston and South Ribble.

Work on the A582 at Penwortham has now been completed, increasing the dual carriageway stretch and the Penwortham bypass links to the major work being undertaken on the rest of the A582 to eventually make the majority of the road two lanes from the Cuerden M65 junction through to Preston city centre.

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