Improvement work completed at Tank Roundabout

Work has finished on the latest stage of work to improve journey times and boost capacity along the A582 in South Ribble.

Lancashire County Council has expanded the Flensburg Way roundabout on the A582 to create extra lanes, and installed new traffic lights to handle increased levels of traffic both now and in the future.

The roundabout at the junction of Flensburg Way and the A582 Penwortham Way is next to the county council's Household Waste Recycling Centre and is best known for the Centurion Tank parked next to it.

Construction started on the site compound in mid-September last year and has been completed according to schedule.

County Councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "This work on the roundabout will improve the flow of traffic, and the new crossing facilities and cycleway will make it safer and easier to use for cyclists and pedestrians.

"This is the latest stage of work to improve the junctions on the A582, in readiness for the road being widened to a dual-carriageway, as part of the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal. The aim is to reduce delays on this route, which is key for traffic travelling in and out of Preston, and across South Ribble.

"The Centurion Tank remains beside the roundabout, albeit in a new spot to accommodate the new layout, acting as a useful landmark for motorists.

"I'd like to thank people for their patience during this improvement work. There could still be some slight delays to journeys in this area as we fine-tune the traffic signals, but we hope that, overall, people will see the positive changes which have been made to the roundabout."

As part of the roundabout work, access has been created into the future housing development site to the west of Croston road and north of Banister Lane which is owned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). This will increase the appeal of the site to developers and ensure that any construction traffic can avoid other local roads. People living in this new development will have direct access to the A582, without adding traffic to existing residential roads.

The county council is currently working to add capacity to the A582 and reduce delays on this key route through South Ribble, between Preston and the M65.

The upgrading of the A582 is one of the four major road schemes included in the City Deal – an agreement between Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire
County Council, along with central government and the HCA.

Councillor Peter Mullineaux, leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: “City Deal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform our borough – creating thousands of new jobs and homes while increasing the local economy in Central Lancashire by a staggering £1bn.

“What South Ribble Borough Council is determined to do is get it right. We want to make sure we have the right infrastructure in place to help support our growing communities while transforming our towns and villages for the better with exciting regeneration schemes, including the £3.5m project in Bamber Bridge which is now underway.

“The completion of these works is an important milestone in delivering highway improvements that will ensure we can fully reap the rewards of the City Deal and push forward with schemes which will benefit generations to come.”

For more information or to see the plans visit the City Deal website www.lancashirelep.co.uk/city-deal, email [email protected].

Keep updated on the plans for the bypass and other highway improvement work taking place by following @LancsCityDeal on Twitter.