Improvements to Skew Bridge and Preston Road
We are carrying out work to improve Grimsargh Skew Bridge and nearby junctions on Preston Road.
This project will improve journey times for everyone and is being funded as part of our Bus Service Improvement Plan to make public transport more reliable.
Planned work
- Widening the bridge so that all vehicles, including larger vehicles such as buses and HGVs, can easily cross the bridge in both directions without having to give way.
- Installing a pedestrian crossing near Grimsargh St Michael’s Primary School to ensure people can cross safely.
- Building two mini-roundabouts at the junctions with Ribblesdale Drive and Whittingham Lane to better manage the flow of traffic and improve residential access.
View a detailed plan of the improvements
Road closures and traffic management
We recognise the importance of Preston Road to local travel, and are working closely with our contractor AEYates to minimise the need for road closures and temporary traffic lights.
The following are key dates within the currently agreed programme. This was most recently updated on Monday 14 July. We are also using electronic signs to indicate key dates to passing traffic.
| Mon 30 June – Thu 10 July | Work will begin to set up the site compound at St Michael's Church, followed by preparations including the installation of temporary fencing, clearance of vegetation and laying stone to prepare the old railway line path for construction traffic. Minimal use of temporary traffic lights may be needed during some of this work. |
|---|---|
| w/c Mon 21 July – Wed 15 Oct |
Start of main period of work on the bridge with demolition of western footway. Temporary traffic lights will be needed on Preston Road. Mon 11 Aug – Tues 19 Aug Work to install mini-roundabout at junction of Whittingham Lane and Preston Road. Temporary traffic lights from 9am to 3pm each day. Tue 26 Aug – Fri 29 Aug Preston Road will be closed overnight. Work is taking place to apply a new surface and road markings at junction of Whittingham Lane and Preston Road |
| Wed 17 Sept – Thu 18 Sept | Preston Road will be closed overnight for 1 night. |
| Fri 24 Oct – Sun 2 Nov | Preston Road will be closed for approx 1 week during the school autumn half term break for installation of the bridge widening. The concrete beams needed to extend the bridge are being pre-cast to allow for quick installation. |
| Thu 6 Nov – Fri 7 Nov | Preston Road will be closed overnight for 1 night. |
We are currently working to schedule the construction of the two mini-roundabouts at the junctions with Ribblesdale Drive and Whittingham Lane, and will update this webpage when the work has been programmed.
Diversions
Vehicles
During the closure of Preston Road a signed diversion suitable for all vehicles, including HGVs, will be in place via Preston Road (B6242), James Towers Way (A6), Whittingham Lane (B5269), and Cumeragh Lane (B5269).
Local traffic is expected to use a shorter route via Whittingham Lane (C359), Haighton Green Lane (C349), D’urton Lane (C349), Eastway (B6241), Andertons Way (B6242), Bluebell Way (B6242), Longridge Road/Preston Road (B6243) and vice versa.
Local drivers can use shorter routes.
Pedestrians
Pedestrian access along Preston Road will stay open via the Skew Bridge footbridge throughout the work, though there may be short-term diversions.
Pedestrian routes to St Michael's Primary School from the car park of Grimsargh St Michael’s Church will remain largely unchanged, while those under the bridge will be redirected to a temporary controlled crossing next to the school. This will later be upgraded to become the new permanent pedestrian crossing.
Public transport
To maintain public transport connections when Preston Road is closed during the October school half-term break, a shuttle bus will operate between Grimsargh and Longridge, timed to connect with a service which will run between Longridge and Preston via Whittingham. A further service will operate between Preston Bus Station and Redscar.
We will update this website with a link to the full details and service timetables when available nearer the time of the closure.
Contact us
If you have any queries please email grimsarghbridge@lancashire.gov.uk or call our customer service centre on 0300 123 6780.