Major update for drivers as roadworks misery set to continue on key road between Blackpool and St Annes
“The developer requested an extension to the works, which we have granted until December 11 - we have made clear our frustration that the request was made at a late stage”
Drivers are to face delays on a major road between Blackpool and St Annes for five more weeks.
Temporary lights were introduced at the junction of Queensway and Kilnhouse Lane in St St St Annes back on June 15 and were listed as continuing until November 2.
But as that date passed earlier this week, the work was still ongoing, with major delays for drivers building up at peak times which have been exacerbated by the lights being switched to three-way last month when Kilnhouse Lane reopened after being shut since June.
Now, highways authority Lancashire County Council has confirmed a new deadline has been set for December 11.
The work at the junction is a private scheme being carried out by Quinn Civils under the authority of Lancashire County Council to allow for road system improvements outside the adjacent Rowland Homes site at Richmond Point.
Peter Bell, Highway Regulation Manager, Lancashire County Council, said: “We appreciate the continued disruption is frustrating for residents and road users, particularly as these works have continued beyond the original completion date.
“The works are developer-led highway improvements associated with the Rowland Homes development at the junction of Queensway and Kilnhouse Lane.
“The developer requested an extension to the works, which we have granted until December 11. We have made clear our frustration that the request was made at a late stage.
“The additional time is needed to complete revised works at the Kilnhouse Lane junction, following changes to the design to address our concerns about the future risk of surface water flooding.
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“The traffic management will be removed once the works are complete.”
The reopening of Kilnhouse Lane was itself delayed as during the works, the issue with the highway design was identified which could have increased the future risk of flooding.
As a result, Lancashire County Council instructed the developer to pause works while the design was reviewed and a revised solution was developed.
The revised design was agreed on September 22, the day after Kilnhouse Lane was originally due to reopen and it was eventually available to traffic again, with three-way lights in place, from October19.
A Lancashire County Council spokesperson said: “Addressing the issue during construction will help prevent future surface water flooding and avoid further disruption now Kilnhouse Lane has reopened.”
Cllr Karen Henshaw, a long-serving Kilnhouse ward representative on Fylde Council and former mayor of Fylde and St Annes, has expressed shock at how long the project is taking.
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She said: “It is causing so much frustration for drivers and residents for months now.
“Kilnhouse Lane’s reopening has meant three-way lights, adding to the delays and meaning what used to be relatively short journeys across into Blackpool have taken so much longer.
“I feel so sorry for the people who need to travel that way to work or to school as part of there daily business. It was a long project anyway but dreadfully disappointing it has gone over deadline.
“The queues around there have been horrendous at times and not a good advert for our area.”
The Queensway works have a knock-on effect at busy times on traffic on Clifton Drive North, the only other direct route between Blackpool and St Annes.