Highways England to build £100m new bypass in Lancashire

Highways England (HE) is planning to build a £100m new dual carriageway along the A585 near Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire as part of the government’s £15bn Road Investment Strategy (RIS).

HE unveiled the detailed plan to build the 2.7 mile Windy Harbour to Skippool section, one of the most congested parts of the 11.5 mile road that connects Fleetwood to the M55.

UK Minister of Roads Jesse Norman said: “The government is taking major decisions for Britain’s future and delivering the largest roads upgrade in a generation.

“The £100m new bypass along the A585 near Poulton-le-Fylde will boost the regional economy, as well as reduce congestion and cut journey times for drivers.”

"The £100m new bypass along the A585 near Poulton-le-Fylde will boost the regional economy, as well as reduce congestion and cut journey times for drivers."

The announcement follows last year’s consultation, in which the bypass option was endorsed by both Fylde and Wyre councils over an alternative to improve the existing single carriageway road.

Highways England project manager David Hopkin said: “It was comfortably the most popular option in a consultation in which almost everyone agreed that something needs to be done about congestion along this section of the A585.

“The new road will help secure and improve opportunities for housing and jobs in this part of Lancashire and contribute to improved connections to the whole of the motorway network.”

The construction of the bypass is expected to start in early 2020, subject to a statutory consultation.