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7:40 PM 22nd May 2020
cars

£150 Million A585 Windy Harbour To Skippool Improvement Underway

 
Work to deliver a £150 million bypass and junction improvements along the A585 near Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, is now getting into its stride after government approval last month.

The busy roundabout at Skippool, at the western end of the new bypass, will be removed and the junction remodelled and managed with traffic signals instead
The busy roundabout at Skippool, at the western end of the new bypass, will be removed and the junction remodelled and managed with traffic signals instead
Highways England’s Windy Harbour to Skippool improvement – which will ease journeys along one of the busiest sections of the A585 between the M55 and Fleetwood – was approved by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on 9 April after a planning inspectorate examination last year.

Highways England’s senior project manager Jonathan Stokes said:

“The new road and associated improvements will tackle existing congestion, help secure and improve opportunities for housing and jobs, and contribute to improved connections to the motorway network.

“While it will be several months before local people and other road users will be able to see very much going on along the route we’ll be producing a regular project newsletter to keep people informed.”

Graphic showing Skippool section of the new bypass and associated junction improvements
Graphic showing Skippool section of the new bypass and associated junction improvements
Graphic showing Windy Harbour section of the new bypass and associated junction improvements
Graphic showing Windy Harbour section of the new bypass and associated junction improvements

Although significant roadworks are several months away, key preparation work has started – with construction workers operating to government guidance related to the Covid-19 outbreak. The work includes constructing a project site office and continuing archaeological investigations along the path of the 70mph dual carriageway new bypass south of Little Singleton.

To mark the start of the work, the first project newsletter has just been published and is being delivered to thousands of homes across the area from today (Thursday 21 May). Future editions will be published online on the project webpage https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/a585-windy-harbour-to-skippool/ where anyone interested in the work can also sign up for regular free email alerts. Anyone with questions can email the project team at a585windyharbourtoskippool@highwaysengland.co.uk.

The new road and improvements to the junctions at Windy Harbour and Skippool are expected to take about three years. Work will initially be undertaken away from the existing road before moving on to reconfiguring the existing junction at Skippool and creating new junctions at Skippool bridge and Garstang Road. Finally, the existing route will be converted to a local road with enhanced provision for walking and cycling.