A bridge widening scheme on a pinchpoint route between Preston and Longridge sees temporary traffic lights return for a final time.
Long-suffering Preston Road residents, commuters and bus passengers are being warned to brace for delays.
The temporary lights have been on and off since summer last year for the much-delayed bridge widening project on Skew Bridge at Grimsargh.
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Lancashire County Council originally said just six weeks of temporary lights would be needed throughout the whole scheme but this will now be nudging closer to six months once the scheme completes in May.
Work had been due to be finished by November last year but was thrown into chaos by the discovery of ‘unforeseen drainage chambers’ in the piling area for the bridge.
The temporary lights have returned as of today (Monday 9 March) and are to be in place for six weeks, as first reported by Blog Preston, in total. Previous stints for the temporary lights have led to tailbacks of more than an hour at peak times, the county council being forced to put in ‘manual control’ to try and ease the congestion and Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis wading into the congestion to organise a public meeting between villagers and highways chiefs.
It follows a previous plan for work to be undertaken overnight during February half-term with full road closures being shelved.
Instead one overnight closure will take place on Tuesday 17 March from 10pm to 5.45am so a crane can lift the new bridge beams into position.
Further overnight closures are planned for mid-April for up to two weeks for construction of the new road surface and road markings.
A new mini roundabout will also be put in place at the junction of Preston Road and Ribblesdale Drive.
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