National Highways continues to rule out new M6 junction north of Preston between 32 and 33

National Highways continues to rule out new M6 junction north of Preston between 32 and 33 | Blog PrestonBlog Preston[1]Menu

National Highways continues to rule out new M6 junction north of Preston between 32 and 33

Posted on - 3rd February, 2025 - 7:00am | Author - Ben Briggs | Posted in - Broughton, Garstang, Preston News, Roads, Transport, Wyre News[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Anyone who lives or works in Preston knows if the M6 goes down due to a bad accident, then the city and surrounding towns and villages become gridlocked. One of the worst incidents of recent times occurred in November last year when a fatal crash between junctions 32 and 33 closed the M6 for almost 24 hours.[9]

That accident, and the traffic chaos it caused in the city, prompted Lancashire county councillor Shaun Turner to ask whether a new motorway junction somewhere between junctions 32 and 33 was the answer. However, National Highways has told Blog Preston a new junction on the M6 just north of Preston is simply not a priority. A spokesman for National Highways said: "Our position remains the same since developing a statement of common ground with both Wyre Borough and Lancashire County councils.

Within current guidance and policies there are currently no plans to provide a new junction along this section of the M6. "That said, we regularly review the demands on the motorways and major A roads we operate. This includes dialogue with local authorities and other stakeholders about the potential impact of future traffic growth on the strategic road network from communities and the local road network alongside it."

The statement of common ground referred to was signed between Highways England (now National Highways), Lancashire County Council and Wyre Council in 2017 and outlined their agreement that 'the construction of a new motorway junction in the vicinity of Garstang is not feasible or achievable to assist with delivering Wyre's housing needs within the [local] plan'. At the time in 2017 the rationale behind exploring the potential for a new motorway junction on the M6 between junctions 32 and 33 was to facilitate housing delivery in the borough of Wyre. However, the notion of placing a new junction near Barton Grange garden centre at Bilsborrow is one that has reared its head over the years, whether in relation to housing growth or traffic congestion.

Indeed, in wake of November's M6 crash and subsequent gridlock, Cllr Turner took to Facebook to express his views.[11] He said: "I was contacted by several people to my Lancashire County Council email address about how the council could either work better with National Highways or we could work better in general around planning for accidents on the A6. "The truth is at present we have the A6/surrounding country roads as diversions.

We have a 13 mile unjunctioned stretch of the M6 which I believe is the longest unjunctioned stretch of that motorway in the country. "The solution to ease things during an incident is another junction, in my opinion. However, that would mean massive development in order to pay for it."

He then went on to ask whether people would take more houses in Wyre in order to get a new junction on the M6, with a predictably wide ranging slew of opinions heading his way. Whatever the driver behind a new junction, be that be relieving the M6 gridlock or facilitating new housing, it would appear that such calls are unlikely to be heeded for the foreseeable future at least.

• LCC was approached for comment and kindly liaised with National Highways on its response. Wyre Council and Cllr Turner did not respond to requests for an updated response.

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References

1. ^ Blog Preston (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
2. ^ Posts by Ben Briggs (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
3. ^ Broughton (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
4. ^ Garstang (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
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6. ^ Roads (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
7. ^ Transport (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
8. ^ Wyre News (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
9. ^ fatal crash between junctions 32 and 33 closed the M6 for almost 24 hours. (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
10. ^ Former Bamber Bridge officer attributes motorway crashes to 'errant drivers' and lack of police (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
11. ^ Cllr Turner took to Facebook to express his views. (www.facebook.com)
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