The public has been met with confusion today when bus stops have been closed unexpectedly amid the start of the next phase of the University of Central Lancashire’s masterplan.

Some bus stops on Friargate are closed due to the closure of areas of the roundabout however people are saying that signage hasn’t been clear enough and has led to people being late to work.

Laura Sydonie Ash from Friargate Hair and Beauty has told Blog Preston that she had difficulty contacting Preston Buses last week after customers were asking her about how the new works would affect bus services.

Laura also told Blog Preston that the salon only received a small leaflet about the works last Monday.

The university has opened an information drop-in at the Balfour Beatty on-site base in Cold Bath Street adjacent to the Media Factory each Tuesday from 9am until 6.30pm to help members of the public with any queries they may have on the works.

The next nine-month stage of the works, phase three, begins today (Monday, 25 November) when a new, two-way stretch of highway will open, directly linking Fylde Road with Corporation Street.

Read More: Adelphi Roundabout roadworks to see one road closure for two years.

Once the new road has opened, Adelphi Street will close temporarily from the Adelphi Roundabout to St Peter’s Street. 

Friargate will close at its junction with Hope Street but access to businesses for deliveries will be maintained through a two-way loop on Friargate.

Newly constructed parking bays on St Peter’s Street will allow access for customers using Adelphi Street businesses, all of which will remain open during these works.

Hope Street car park will remain open during the works, with access from Corporation Street and Friargate however exit will only be via Corporation Street.

Traffic restrictions will also be in place on Moor Lane and Walker Street with no access from these routes through the Adelphi Roundabout, but vehicle access for residents and businesses in Moor Lane and Walker Street will remain open.

Alternative routes will be available around the Adelphi roundabout for cyclists, pedestrians and residents wanting to access Adelphi Street, Friargate, Moor Lane and Walker Street. Where relevant, cyclists should dismount and follow pedestrian routes.

Businesses on all affected roads will remain open as usual with full pedestrian access available.  

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Michael Ahern, UCLan’s Chief Information and Infrastructure Officer, said: “We are on schedule to complete the first stage of the highways work as planned and we are doing everything we can to highlight the changes to the road layout around the Adelphi roundabout during the next important stage which will commence on 25 November.

“We really appreciate the patience of everyone so far and look forward to the near future when our £60million Student Centre rises about the skyline and the new civic square comes to life.

“As this next, important phase progresses we aim to minimise disruption as far as possible”

To keep informed of any travel updates and for more detail about the new highways scheme, visit www.uclanmasterplan.co.uk or you can follow @uclanmasterplan on Twitter or email the Masterplan team at uclanmasterplan@uclan.ac.uk