Riverside in Broadgate closure now extended until December

The new concrete panels being installed along the section of Riverside which remains closed Pic: Environment Agency North West

An already prolonged closure of a road in Broadgate is expected to continue until December.

Riverside was shut in March last year and was due to re-open in May this year.

But due to the flood defence works taking longer than expected in the section between the Gas Pipe Bridge to South End the Environment Agency has advised the road is staying shut until December. It had been due to open this month.

Engineers have blamed ‘unexpected and complicated riverbank and bedrock conditions’ for the continued delays to being able to re-open the road.

Residents living nearby have received a letter from the Environment Agency apologising for the continued closure.

The section along the River Ribble recently had three pre-cast concrete panels installed and further work is needed to create a maintenance path on the ‘wet side’ of the wall.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency told Blog Preston: “We sympathise with residents and business owners and are working hard with our suppliers to complete this section of the project as quickly as possible.

“The delays along Riverside are due to unexpected and complicated riverbank and bedrock conditions which have meant that we have had to revisit the design and construction methods we are using.”

They said the road closure is needed for the continued safety of the public and construction workers during the works.

The 119 bus service is affected by the closure and a free dial-a-rise service remains in place for elderly or disabled residents affected by the works. A free ride is available to Morrisons at the Docks or into the city centre by contacting Preston Community Transport on 01772204667 – selection option 2 and say you are resident within the flood scheme area.

Work on the Broadgate section is part of a £54.7million flood defence scheme along the River Ribble and is due to see the Broadgate and Penwortham works completed by the end of 2024 before the scheme shifts its focus to Walton-le-Dale where work will continue until 2027.

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