Yet more driver misery on key route

United Utilities set up temporary traffic lights on the northbound side of Clifton Drive North close to its junction with Kilgrimol Gardens while the water company dealt with a collapsed sewer.

The latest works came just four weeks after a leaking pipe which prompted the need for three-way traffic lights further along Clifton Drive North.

Those works last month coincided with longer-terms works which were taking place at the time on Common Edge Road, the only other direct route between the resorts, and caused near-gridlock at peak times.

The latest site, where works concluded after four days, was also close to the scene of drainage works by Lancashire County Council earlier this year, which over-ran and caused lengthy delays.

A UU spokesman said: “We are sorry for the delays to traffic but our engineers worked hard to solve the problem as quickly as possible. ”