Improvement work starts on city gateway

Major improvement work starts on Monday 25 April along New Hall Lane in Preston, with changes to the road layout, parking and the local environment.

 Enhanced pedestrian crossings will be provided and the amount of street clutter will be reduced.

 There'll be more space for pedestrians and increased parking spaces, with changes to the permitted parking times. Improvements to cycle routes are also being introduced.

 The changes are being carried out by Lancashire County Council, as part of the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal. The aim is to encourage economic development by making the area more attractive to investors and visitors.

 The first stage involves work to create space for new tree planting, followed by new paving due to be put in from mid-June. The two existing road junctions will be improved towards the end of the project, with completion of the work early next year.

 The improvements on New Hall Lane will run from the junction with Mosley Street and extend just beyond the junction with Acregate Lane. The aim is improve facilities for pedestrians, with wider footways and a larger crossing in the centre of the shopping area, in particular near the school and church.

 There will also be improvements to the pedestrian crossings at the junctions with Acregate Lane and Skeffington Road.

 Changes to the location of bus stops and measures to give priority to buses will make it easier for people to use public transport.

 Phill Wilson, City Deal project manager, said: "This work will make New Hall Lane a much nicer area, particularly for shoppers, residents and businesses.

 "We know that there'll be some short term disruption while this work takes place. Shops and businesses will remain open during the work, and we'll be doing everything we can to keep any inconvenience to a minimum."

 New Hall Lane forms part of the wider Warton to Samlesbury Enterprise Zone Public Transport Priority Corridor, which will see improvements to public transport, cycling and walking over the ten year City Deal period.

 The need to improve this section of New Hall Lane was identified in the Central Lancashire Highways and Transport Masterplan, which was published in 2013.

 For more information visit www.lancashirelep.co.uk/city-deal, email [email protected] or follow the work on twitter @lancscitydeal.