A temporary road put in as part of delayed flood works in Broadgate is going to be replaced.
Nearby businesses The Continental and the Mini Centre in South Meadow Lane say it became unsafe during heavy rain over the weekend.
Susan Rowlands, owner of The Continental, said they had been left frustrated by contractors Volker Stevin and the Environment Agency’s inaction.
Read more: Miller Park entrance reopens after two months of flood defence work
She said: “It was designed only to last a year and they have insisted it was too late and too difficult to renew the road – and we are three years in now of these works.
“Attempts have been made to clean it from time to time when we’ve complained.
“The Mini Centre has lost customers from drivers who are loathed to use it.
“Over the weekend a car was damaged trying to use it.
“And we were told construction traffic would not use the temporary road and instead use the South Meadow Lane works entrance – but they’ve been down it.”
The pub put up signs during Sunday to advise drivers of it being an unsafe temporary road.
Blog Preston approached the Environment Agency for comment. They confirmed they had now agreed to replace the temporary road with a ‘more resilient surface’.
A spokesperson said: “Our supplier is assessing damage to the temporary road caused by the intense rainfall over the weekend and working on an interim solution for vehicle access until the temporary road is replaced.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience experienced by road users and the time it has taken for improvements. We have now made arrangements to replace the Terrafirma mats with a more resilient stone surface, with work to commence on the 29 September 2025. It is expected to take up to two weeks to complete.”
The temporary road is needed as Riverside remains closed off due to the ongoing flood defence works which are over-running by a year for a section of the Broadgate-side of the scheme.
The Environment Agency says this is due to ‘challenging ground conditions’ along the river bank at Riverside – which has meant the closure of that section of road and footpath has remained in force.
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