Everything you need to know about new Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone road as Vickers Way opens
Vickers Way is now open to traffic, Blackpool Council says the new access road marks a major step forward for the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
The road forms a key new route into the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, improving connectivity for businesses and residents while helping to ease congestion on surrounding roads, including School Road.
The road, named Vickers Way, reopened to traffic on Tuesday, 5 May, offering an alternative route in and out of the growing business park while helping to reduce congestion in the area.
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It also provides direct access to the Common Edge Community Sports Village, which has seen growing demand since opening in 2023. The site includes grass football pitches, a floodlit 3G pitch and rugby facilities, with further parking improvements already planned.
Operated in partnership with Blackpool Council and Fylde Council, the Enterprise Zone spans both authorities and supports more than 4,000 existing jobs across around 200 businesses, with ambitions to create a further 5,000 jobs by 2041.
Councillor Paula Burdess said the scheme goes far beyond building a road.
She said: “We’ve not just built a road from A to B. We’ve built a new junction that will reduce congestion on School Road.
“We’ve built a new sports village for people to enjoy and we’re building a new car park and relief road to reduce the impact on local residents.”
She added that the project has been designed with future growth and sustainability in mind.
“We’ve created plots for businesses to create jobs, pre-installed utilities like power and water so they can create jobs faster.
“We’ve improved drainage so the new road doesn’t increase the risk of flooding - under the ground we’ve installed huge drains that can hold rainwater during a storm and release it as a slow trickle over time. We’ve also built space for wildlife and habitats to flourish, with grassed areas and wildflowers either side of the road.”
The scheme also includes shared footpaths and cycle routes, alongside a bus service operated by Blackpool Transport to improve sustainable travel options.
The Enterprise Zone is backed by a £7.5m UK Government Town Deal grant and forms part of a wider £54m infrastructure investment programme aimed at boosting economic growth and improving connectivity across the area.
Cllr Burdess said the wider goal is simple: “Everything we are doing is about making Blackpool better for the people who live here.”