Underpass finally re-opens as flooding woes come to an end

Cllr Ben Ward at the now reopened underpass. Pic: Ben Ward.

A well-used underpass in Preston which was closed due to persistent flooding has now reopened.

The tunnel on Darkinson Lane in Lea was constructed as part of the £206m link road scheme, which has seen a new dual carriageway created connecting Riversway to a new junction 2 on the M55.

However, it had been shut since late October when heavy rain flooded the area once again and Lancashire County Council (LCC) had previously confirmed that drainage issues, as well as a faulty pump, meant there was no quick fix to the issues afflicting the tunnel.

Ben Ward, city councillor Ingol and Cottam, has been campaigning for essential work to be carried out on the tunnel and for the faulty water pump to be replaced.

Cllr Ward said he received confirmation from Lancashire County Council (LCC) that essential maintenance had now taken place.

He said: “It’s great that the underpass is now open and accessible to local residents and businesses as well leisure users, especially as we head towards the summer.

“Hopefully the relocation of the control panel to a higher location will mean that the works carried out are a long-term fix, preventing similar issues occurring in the future.”

In an email to Cllr Ward, LCC Highways District Lead Officer, Peter Agland, said: “The company has now confirmed that they will be attending [on 8 April] to repair the control panel and identify from here whether further works are required. We have also cleared the drainage ditches, trash screen and so on.

“With regard to the position of the pumping station, it would appear the original designers were confident it would not become overwhelmed. With the benefit of hindsight, our maintenance team will be relocating the control panel for the future.”

Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.