Motorist reckons they’ve solved M55 and M6 congestion at Broughton junction

The new motorway junction is being constructed between Swillbrook and Higher Bartle

Drivers have consistently been subject to traffic overflow and congestion when travelling between from Preston to Blackpool and vice versa.

To counteract these issues, National Highways are constructing a new junction on to the M55 as part of the Preston Western Distributor works.

The new junction will be a part of the extra growth planned for the area. It will aim to reduce the high demand on Junction 1, and will aim to improve congestion for vehicles exiting the M6 at J32.

On Thursday 26 January, a local commuter highlighted and reported the ‘poor design of Junction 32 exit to M55’, on the Fix My Street website.

They said bad traffic at the junction could be reduced by changing the road markings: “Almost everyday for seven years I’ve been driving from Preston to Blackpool, there has been bad traffic at this junction which could be massively reduced with altering the road markings.

“Currently there are four lanes, with the left most lane going off to the A6 and M55, which ends up with a queue over a mile long.

“Most of the traffic is caused by cars trying to go into the A6, and people diving in last minute to get in this slip road. This shouldn’t affect those going on the M55 but does massively.

“I propose that the far left lane go to the A6 only, and the second left lane carry on the M6 and also have a slip road to the M55 separating the traffic to go to both roads.

“Not allowing traffic to switch between the A6 and M55 lane (they can do this later where M6 southbound joins the M55). I’d be very surprised if this issue has been raised before.”

A representative for National Highways addressed the report and told Blog Preston: ” We’re currently constructing a new junction on to the M55. This new junction is intended to cater for some of the extra growth planned for the area, and to reduce some of the demands on junction 1.

“We hope this will in turn improve congestion for vehicles exiting the M6 at J32. Once this project is complete we’ll assess traffic flow and consider if further improvements are required at junction 1 or its approaches.”