The Scheme
Brief History
As part of the planning process, Chorley Borough Council commissioned in 2001 the production of an Environmental Statement in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. This Environmental Statement is available from the Chorley Borough Council website (http://www.chorley.gov.uk).
The assessment identifies the effects the scheme will have on the environment and people in the neighbourhood. Both benefits and adverse impacts were taken into account in the assessment process, which was carried out alongside the engineering design studies. The advantage of this was that when adverse impacts were identified measures to avoid or minimise them could be put into the design as it was developed.
The Purpose and Benefits
To:
- Provide traffic relief particularly along Weldbank Lane and Carr Lane and divert traffic onto a more appropriate road for safety and environment improvement;
- Complete the southern and western bypass of the town and thus realising the full traffic benefits;
- Provide a suitable, viable public transport route into the Eaves Green neighbourhood;
- Provide a second access into the Eaves Green area providing alternative access for residents and emergency services;
- Improve access for local facilities in particular schools and businesses;
- Provide for proper planning of schools, commercial areas and other facilities in the area.
Description of the Route
The new link road, which will be illuminated for its full length, is formed by a 13.3m (43 feet) wide corridor of carriageway, verges and footway/cycleway widened by cutting/embankment to achieve a smooth vertical profile.
It connects at the western end on Lower Burgh Way at an offset roundabout on the east side. The existing speed limit on Lower Burgh Way will remain at 30mph, while on the link road itself the speed limit will be 40mph.
The route runs eastward in shallow cutting for 0.14km to intersect Burgh Lane. A T-junction is provided for the southern end of Burgh Lane to provide access to premises, however vehicle access is not to be allowed from the north side of Burgh Lane where a turning head will be constructed.
The route now swings northeast for 0.48km on a left hand curve, initially on low embankment before moving into cutting to form a roundabout at the eastern edge of the playing fields of the Holy Cross RC High School. The roundabout will have a spur to allow the future connection of an access from the school.
The route now takes a general northeast direction for 0.60km in a mix of shallow cut and low embankment to rise over the River Yarrow escarpments on a three span concrete bridge approximately 60m long. In this section future access is provided on the north side to the former Vertex Training Centre redevelopment area, as well as to a waste water pumping station located in the woods on the south side.
East of the bridge the route continues for a further 50m on low embankment to a traffic signal controlled junction with the A6 Bolton Road.
The scheme includes a 3.5m footway and cycleway along the north side for its entire length and between Lower Burgh Way and Burgh Lane on the south side.