Major new Preston road is one step closer
The ÂŁ161 million scheme will connect Blackpool Road with the M55
A major new road to the west side of Preston and a new junction on the M55 is one step closer.
The "Preston Western Distributor" is estimated to cost ÂŁ161 million, with Transport for Lancashire saying it represents high value for money and gave its conditional funding approval to the road scheme.
The Full Business Case will also need the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport. It's expected that will be presented for approval in 2019, with construction scheduled to start on site in Autumn 2019.
The Preston Western Distributor is a 4.3km dual carriageway that will connect the A583 Blackpool Road with the M55 at a new Junction 2, near Bartle.
A single carriageway road will also be created to Cottam Way. Known as the Cottam Link Road, it will join the Preston Western Distributor just north of the Lancaster Canal.
The scheme will also include an East-West Link Road, a 3.4km long single carriageway road linking Lightfoot Lane to the Preston Western Distributor, with separate footways and cycleways along its entire length.
These new roads will support the plans to build around 5,000 homes.
County Councillor Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council said: "This road will provide a major new link on the western side of the city, from the M55 towards Blackpool Road and Riversway.
"It will support new housing and business development in the area, provide relief to traffic pressures at junction one of the M55, and reduce congestion in the city centre.
"There will also be opportunities for new bus priority measures, improvements to local public areas and initiatives to encourage walking and cycling.
"This is an important new road for Preston, as well the wider area, improving connections to the Fylde Coast and further afield, especially the national motorway network."
Jim Carter, chair of the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal, said: "This is by far the largest transport project in the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's Growth Deal programme and one of several major road schemes in the City Deal.
"The Preston Western Distributor scheme is predicted to deliver high value for money with ÂŁ2.29 in benefits for every pound invested in its delivery.
"This is a positive step forward towards our plans to unlock the potential of the area by helping people to get around and improving the connections between homes and workplaces."