Could M55 link road be moving closer?

Relief could be on the way for Fylde commuters with the start of work on a long-awaited congestion-busting road scheme believed to be just weeks away.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jun 2017, 17:44 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 21:12 BST
A map of the new Preston Western Distributor road, which will link the M55 with the A583 at CliftonA map of the new Preston Western Distributor road, which will link the M55 with the A583 at Clifton
A map of the new Preston Western Distributor road, which will link the M55 with the A583 at Clifton

A new junction will be created on the M55 at Cottam near Preston to link a 4.3km dual carriageway to Blackpool Road at Clifton.

If it goes ahead, it will provide another access to the motorway network for east Fylde commuters, particularly BAE workers, and ease pressure on junction three of the M55 and villages like Wrea Green.

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Highways chiefs say an application for the £110m Western Distributor and East-West Link is set to go before County Hall’s planning committee next month.

And the project manager says the authority will be pulling out all the stops to get construction underway as soon as possible.

“Work is continuing to develop the plans for the Preston Western Distributor (PWD), which would include a new junction on the M55, connecting the western side of Preston to the Blackpool Road and Riversway junction,” said Phil Wilson from the City Deal infrastructure team.

“A planning application has been submitted and is scheduled to be on the agenda for July’s planning committee. We are making every effort to start construction work on the new road as soon as possible.”

As well as the 4.3km Western Distributor dual carriageway, it also comprises a 3.4km East-West Link Road (EWLR) which will connect the proposed and existing housing areas of North West Preston.

Related topics:M55FyldeBlackpool RoadWork