We reported back in August that a major project to make Preston’s main shopping street more pedestrian-friendly would lead to road closures and we warned motorists to expect disruption until mid-November.
Construction work is now well underway and affecting traffic in the Lune Street area with traffic lights removed from Lune Street and Chapel Street. Chapel Street is now temporarily a one-way street causing some confusion to motorists.
Traffic wanting to access Chapel Street from Fishergate are being diverted via Ringway, Manchester Road, Avenham Lane, Ribblesdale Place and Chapel Street. Work has closed one of the footpaths on Lune Street up to Fishergate with pedestrian diversions in place. However, works are taking place on Fishergate itself and some pedestrian crossing are temporarily out of order
The strategy to develop the city centre is hoped to provide a boost for Preston’s central retail area something recent reports have said the city desperately needs.
In August Phil Barrett, director of Lancashire Highway Services, said: “This project will completely transform Fishergate, resulting in a much more attractive environment, but some disruption is unavoidable while the work takes place so we’re asking people to be patient and bear with us. However, all business will be accessible throughout the works. There will be delays to traffic so we’d ask motorists to avoid using Fishergate if another route is available to them.”
What are your thoughts on the changes to Fishergate? Let us know in the comments below