The text of this letter is provided here, alongside a downloadable copy and all accompanying documentation.
Work to Improve Grimsargh Skew Bridge and Preston Road
I'm writing to let you know that Lancashire County Council will soon begin work to improve Grimsargh Skew Bridge and nearby junctions on Preston Road.
This project will improve journey times for everyone and is part of a government-funded plan to make public transport more reliable.
The work includes:
- 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.
Our contractor, AE Yates, is due to start setting up the site compound at Grimsargh St Michael’s Church on Monday, 30 June.
To help you plan your journeys, please note the following key dates within the currently agreed programme. We do not anticipate any major changes to these dates; however, if minor adjustments are needed as work progresses, these will be indicated via on-site signage and the project webpage (see below).
Mon 30 June – Thu 10 July Work will begin to set up the site compound at the 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. Thu 10 July – Fri 11 July Start of main period of work on the bridge. Preston Road will be closed overnight for 1 night. Wed 17 Sept – Thu 18 Sept Preston Road will be closed overnight for 1 night. Thu 18 Sept – Wed 15 Oct Temporary traffic lights will be needed on Preston Road. 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. Thu 6 Nov – Fri 7 Nov Preston Road will be closed overnight for 1 night. We know roadworks can be inconvenient, but this short-term disruption will result in long-term benefits for everyone using Preston Road.
To help reduce disruption:
- The concrete beams needed to extend the bridge are being pre-cast to allow for quick installation, minimising the impact on Preston Road.
- Most construction traffic will use the old railway line behind the church to minimise the impact on traffic using Preston Road.
- When Preston Road is closed a signed diversion suitable for all vehicles, including HGVs, will be in place. Local drivers can use shorter routes - please see the attached map.
- Temporary traffic lights will be needed at times during the project, however we recognise the importance of Preston Road to local travel and will seek to keep this to a minimum.
- Public transport connections will be maintained. When Preston Road is closed, a shuttle bus will operate between Grimsargh and Longridge, timed to connect with a service which will run between Longridge and Preston via Whittingham.
Pedestrian access will stay open via the footbridge throughout the work, though there may be short-term diversions. Routes to the school from the church car park 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.
If there are any major changes to the construction schedule we will write to you again. Further information and updates will be available on our website at: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/strategies-policies-plans/roads-parking-and-travel/major-transport-schemes/grimsargh-skew-bridge/.
If you have any queries, or if you have a disability which you feel would affect your access during these works, please email grimsarghbridge@lancashire.gov.uk or call our customer service centre on 0300 123 6780.
Thanks for your patience and support.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Wilding BEng CEng MICE
Bridges and Structures Design Manager, Highways Operations and Design, Lancashire County Council
