Preston's Fishergate Hill due to reopen next week following pipe burst

Fishergate Hill is currently closed from Bow Lane to its junction with Liverpool Road, Strand Road, and Broadgate due to damage caused by the burst pipe.

The pipe has now been repaired, and work is ongoing to repair the road surface. This includes making repairs to the recently installed 'cyclops' junction at the bottom of Fishergate Hill.

People are being asked to avoid the area if possible as Fishergate Hill is a vital route and its closure is causing delays at busy times.

County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We've been working closely with United Utilities to ensure that Fishergate Hill can be repaired and reopened as soon as possible following last week's pipe burst.

"Our highway regulation team is speaking to UU every day to manage the impact of the closure, and work is currently on track for Fishergate Hill to reopen and things to be largely back to normal by the end of the day on Thursday 7 December.

"This includes ensuring the speedy delivery of specialist coloured surfacing materials needed to restore the cyclops junction so that Fishergate Hill does not stay closed any longer than necessary.

"Some of the road foundations in this area are made of concrete and there may be periods when little activity is happening on site while waiting for this to set, however work is progressing as quickly as possible.

"In the meantime, I would ask people to avoid this area if they can, as the closure of what is usually a very busy road is causing delays due to other routes becoming much busier than usual as a result of vehicles which would usually use Fishergate being diverted."

There are signs in the area directing traffic along diversions around the closure. The usual prohibition on vehicles turning right out of Butler Street near Preston Railway Station has been suspended, along with the bus lane enforcement cameras, so that people can choose to go towards Corporation Street as well as using the diversion via Bow Lane to exit the city centre.