Improvements to cycling and walking along Fylde seafront due to start soon

Work is due to start in the New Year on improvements to cycling and walking facilities along the seafront linking St Annes and Blackpool.

The project to construct of an off-road cycle track on the coastal side of Clifton Drive North between Highbury Road West and Squires Gate will begin on Monday 4 January.

The existing footway is due to be widened to create a two-way track for cycles, which will be segregated from pedestrians by a raised marking. There will also be short sections of shared cycle track/footway at the start and end of the route to allow cyclists to transition to and from the existing on-road cycle lanes.

Five new pedestrian refuges will also be built at various points, with the existing ones also being improved. The existing pelican crossing outside the entrance to the former Pontins holiday camp will be replaced with a new pedestrian refuge. Hatched road markings will be painted down the centre line of the road to calm traffic and maintain clearance for emergency services to pass.

Some bus stops will also be repositioned, and the speed limit will be reduced from 40mph to 30mph, making Clifton Drive 30mph all the way from Lytham St Annes to Blackpool.

The project is expected to be completed around the end of March. There will be some impact on traffic as work progresses, with cones being used to narrow the existing traffic lanes and provide safe working space for the footway to be widened.

Two-way temporary traffic lights will also be in use at times, mainly during the early part the scheme and towards the end of the scheme as work is focused on improving the pedestrian refuge areas.

There will be some temporary disruption to parking where work is taking place in the immediate area, however this scheme does not involve any permanent changes to existing parking arrangements. The county council is due to hold further consultation in Spring 2022 about proposed changes to parking in this area.

County Councillor Charlie Edwards, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The Lancashire coastline is a popular place for people to ride their bikes thanks to the existing routes being largely free of traffic.

“One of the sections most in need of improvement is along the front between St Annes and Blackpool, and Sustrans has secured a substantial contribution from the Department for Transport towards delivering this.

“This new scheme will make it easier and safer for people to cycle between St Annes and Blackpool, as well as improving pedestrian facilities along this stretch of the coastline.

“There will be some disruption as the work takes place, however this should be fairly minimal most of the time and we will be doing our best to allow traffic to flow as freely as possible. I’m grateful for people’s patience while we construct this scheme, which represents a substantial investment in this area.

“We are currently reviewing the parking restrictions along this stretch of the coast, however this scheme does not involve any changes to parking. We will be presenting any new proposals and giving people a chance to have their say before anything changes.”

The cycling and pedestrian improvements are being jointly funded by cycling charity Sustrans and the county council. Sustrans is contributing £615k to the project, with the county council providing £492k towards the scheme.