Poulton Street in Kirkham is set to reopen early next week for Festive shopping, drinks and dining following works carried out under the Kirkham Futures Public Realm Scheme.
The road is currently closed from the junction with Clegg Street to the junction with Church Street, Freckleton Street, Kirkgate and Preston Street.
The plan was to resurface the highway and re-open December 10th, however, after analysis of test bore holes along Poulton Street, which could only be carried out and assessed this week, the Highways Authority Lancashire County Council have instructed additional work to the sub-surface that would add at least a week to the planned work resulting in a closure of the main street until Christmas week.
The additional highway work is necessary to ensure an appropriate high-quality scheme, to ignore the technical advice could result in significant issues with the highway soon after the public realm works have been completed, adding cost and inconvenience to the businesses and residents of Kirkham.
All partners agreed that to extend the current road closure into Christmas week was not acceptable, the businesses and residents of Kirkham must have the opportunity to eat, drink and shop local this Christmas.
The instruction has been given to bring the current road closure to an end early next week, allowing Poulton Street, Kirkgate, Church Street, Freckleton Street and Preston Street to reopen to traffic. The businesses will have an additional weekend without the road being closed in the crucial run up to Christmas.
Every effort will be made to reduce the extent of temporary traffic lights during this period. Works will continue to the footways in Poulton Street, Kirkgate, Freckleton Street and Preston Street alongside carriageway works in Church Street and Birley Street and the new structures, paving and planting to Market Square. However, works carried out whilst the road is closed until early next week will remove the need to have four-way temporary lights.
To carry out the more substantial works to the carriageway required by Lancashire County Council an application for a road closure early in the New Year will be made. when the impact on businesses and residents is expected to be considerably less.
Partners are committed to delivering a high-quality development for Kirkham and value the support that has been evident throughout the programme. It is hoped that this decision helps the town to have a successful Christmas period.
Further information on the future road closure will be shared in due course.
For further information on the Kirkham Futures Public Realm Scheme please visit Public Realm Improvements (Kirkhamfutures.org)
