Ribble Valley tests and Skew Bridge works will disrupt travel
United Utilities has started ground investigation works this spring for the HARP water tunnel scheme along roads and rivers in the ribble valley, including tests on or near two sections of the B6478 north of Clitheroe. The council update says these short investigations precede larger construction to replace parts of a 110km pipeline and include community liaison appointments, ecological surveys and trial holes near bridges.
Ribble Valley ground investigation works
Ground tests are under way this month and in April on or near two sections of the B6478 north of Clitheroe towards Newton on Bowland, with one area on the high section of Slaidburn Road north of Waddington near Waddington Fell Quarry and another around Hallgate Hill testing private farmland west of the road near the River Hodder; temporary traffic lights will be used around Waddington Fell for one or two days at each test location. The pattern suggests these short, targeted tests are being used to assess feasibility for planned river crossings and new access tracks before tunnelling and heavy construction begins.
United Utilities HARP tunnel plan
The Ribble Valley Council planning update describes that the HARP scheme will replace sections of a 110km pipeline from the Lake District to Greater Manchester, with some sections passing through Lancaster, Hyndburn and Rossendale; Cascade Infrastructure, including Strabag UK and partners, has been appointed to design, build, maintain and finance the scheme with an estimated construction cost of £3billion, and ecological surveys are ongoing while archaeological reports for crossings at the Ribble and Hodder are complete. The figures point to a large, multi-year programme — the update warns the scheme could last six or seven years and will therefore require sustained community liaison and coordination with Lancashire County Council on roads.
Skew Bridge widening works timeline
Work to widen Skew Bridge in Grimsargh and nearby junction improvements on Preston Road began on Tuesday, March 10 and are expected to last up to six weeks, with temporary traffic lights needed during that period and an overnight closure of Preston Road scheduled for Tuesday, 17 March to lift new bridge beams; the project, funded through the Bus Service Improvement Plan, aims to open the new bridge by the end of April with finishing works continuing into May. The council has instructed the contractor that the temporary lights must be staffed from 7am to 7pm after reports that an operator failed to appear on Tuesday, 10 March and motorists experienced delays of more than an hour, the move signalling stricter site controls to avoid repeat gridlock.
Next confirmed event: an overnight closure of Preston Road is due to take place on Tuesday, 17 March for the beam lift; if the mandated 7am–7pm operator staffing is maintained for the remainder of the works, the schedule suggests the new bridge could open by the end of April while finishing work continues into May.
