A section of road in Broadgate near the River Ribble which has seen closures and disruption for the past three years is back open.
New flood defences work on the delayed Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme are now complete at the Miller Gardens section.
Engineers encountered ‘riverbank issues’ on the work between South End and Miller Gardens so had to use a different piling method for the works.
Read more: Miller Park entrance reopens after two months of flood defence work
Glass-topped walls are now in place and the Environment Agency has lifted the road closure after the recently installed flood gate at Miller Gardens passed a ‘wet test’.
The footpath from Miller Gardens up to the Continental pub remains closed to pedestrians and cyclists – this is expected to last until May next year.
The £54.7million scheme has faced criticism from those living in and around Miller Gardens and also from nearby businesses such as the Mini Centre and the Conti about disruption caused by the works.
Flood risk manager for the Environment Agency, Richard Knight, said: “This is another milestone for the Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme – these are essential works which, once complete, will reduce flood risk to thousands of local homes and businesses.
“Unfortunately, there has been an unavoidable delay to these works. This was due to challenges in the ground and riverbank conditions, which led to a change in the design – problems magnified by the confined working space.”
The Environment Agency also said the fence boundary between the BAC/EE Social and Sports Association and Miller Gardens Apartments’ car park has been restored.
There was a temporary road surface put in to allow vehicles and pedestrians to access Miller Gardens and Riverside from South Meadow Lane.
While work continues on the Riverside footpath section in recent weeks the plans for the Walton-le-Dale section of the flood defence scheme have now been submitted to South Ribble Borough Council for consideration.
Sections of the flood defence scheme further up Broadgate and on the Penwortham side were completed to schedule earlier in the scheme – and a new mini nature reserve and wetlands at Margaret Road, known as Ribble Sidings, is soon to be handed over to the borough council once complete. It had been delayed due to the drought experienced earlier this year.
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