National Highways: “A585 Windy Harbour delayed”

The opening date of one of the main arterial routes to Thornton and Fleetwood will be delayed according to National Highways.

A statement released today (16th May 2023) states”

“The bypass in Poulton-le-Fylde was due to be completed this summer, but has been delayed due to challenging and complex ground conditions in between Garstang New Road and Mains Lane.”

“Drivers and communities are being advised that the A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool bypass is [now] set to open in winter 2023.”

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this new date may cause. We’re working hard to complete our work on this essential bypass project, safely and as quickly as we possibly can.”

National Highways cite ‘challenging ground conditions’ as the main reason for the delay and problems in protecting and diverting a major water main.

“These works could not be rushed due to the risk of bursting the main, potentially leaving residents in Poulton and surrounding areas without water.”

“As a result, we had to design and adopt a unique engineering solution to divert the main. These unexpected works have delayed the construction of the new Poulton junction at Garstang Road East, which is a critical section to the whole route.”

Planners are looking to help ease disruption this summer by opening two extra lanes to increase capacity at Skippool, heading westbound and eastbound. This will form part of the permanent solution at the junction and improve the flow of traffic along Mains Lane.

Work started in 2020 an here is the full list of works to date:

• moving and installing a network of complex utility services
• constructing a new drainage system to prevent flooding when the bypass is operational
• removing Skippool Bridge and constructing a new bridge structure over Main Dyke
• building a new underpass at Lodge Lane
• installing Grange footbridge, providing safe pedestrian access to the village of Singleton
• on-site recycling of approximately 500,000 tonnes of site material, creating a net saving of 5,447 tonnes of carbon dioxide
• mammal crossings to assist wildlife under the bypass
• bird mitigation areas for special species like pink-footed geese, lapwing and curlew

National Highways tell us that there’s still much work to complete including:

• realignment of Lodge Lane
• installing permanent traffic signals and road lighting across the project
• implementing a comprehensive re-planting programme, which will be noticeable later this year during planting season
• de-trunking Mains Lane and de-commissioning Garstang New Road. This will take place once we have opened the new bypass

What is de-commissioning?

A decommissioned road is a highway that has been removed from service by closing it down or having its authorisation as a national highway removed.

What is de-trunking?

De-trunking is returning an A-road back to a local highway and handing responsibility for that road to the local highway authority, in this instance from National Highways to Lancashire County Council.

When we de-trunk Mains Lane, we will be constructing new cycle paths and walkways to make it much safer for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

The A585 is one of the most congested sections of road in the region and we are eager to finish this work to provide safer, smoother and more reliable journeys for motorists who use this route every day.

Local residents have been plighted with persistent traffic delay and share some strong opinions of the

Jenny in Thornton:
“I’m totally fed up with it, I wanted to move house but these roadworks make my house less desirable to prospective purchasers, it causing me no end of misery.”

Dave B in Cleveleys:
“I work in Preston, and I either have to leave super-early or super-late, the new temporary traffic lights are a joke.”

You can have your say on the roadworks by emailing:

A585WindyHarbourToSkippool@nationalhighways.co.uk