£17m road upgrade begins in Blackpool
Project aims to enhance traffic flow and support local development
The first phase of an extensive £17m road upgrade is underway in Blackpool, aiming to boost the town's regeneration efforts and improve access to the centre.
Launching this week, the Town Centre Access Scheme (TCAS) is a programme partially funded with £15.3m from the UK Government.
Blackpool Council plans to enhance key routes around the town centre to alleviate congestion and improve traffic flow for both residents and businesses.
These enhancements align with the council’s road maintenance commitments, which sees over a dozen residential roads resurfaced this spring.
Significant changes will improve roads in and around Blackpool, making it more accessible for road users and pedestrians.
Road layouts will be modified, traffic signal junctions optimized, and more crossing areas installed for the benefit of pedestrians and cyclists.
Cllr Paula Burdess, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Street Scene, and Neighbourhoods, highlighted the scheme's importance.
“This is an important investment our town’s future. These improvements support our long-term ambition to create a town centre that’s easier to access and more inviting for residents, businesses and visitors," Burdess said.
Simon Lightwood, Roads and Buses Minister, added: “Blackpool is a town with real ambition, and this £15.3m Government investment in its road network is a clear sign of this government's commitment to supporting that growth.”
The initial phase begins at the junction of Grosvenor Road and Caunce Street and is projected to last approximately 10 weeks, pending weather conditions.
Upgrades include traffic signal improvements and road widening to restore two-way traffic flow on Grosvenor Street. Works will proceed without temporary traffic lights, but roads will operate with reduced lanes. Travelers should allow extra time in this area.
Subsequent works will focus on the Deansgate and Cookson Street junction, with plans to remodel it by incorporating pedestrian crossings and enhanced cycling facilities.
The TCAS is a phased programme, anticipated to finish by Autumn 2028.
Enhancements involve updating road layouts, introducing right turns, adding toucan crossings, and creating public realm spaces and cycle lanes.
Blackpool’s Talbot Gateway area will also benefit, fostering long-term economic growth by bringing over 8,000 workers and students into the town centre.
Recent upgrades delivered developments like a Holiday Inn hotel, a tram-train interchange, and new offices for local departments and the NHS Business Services Authority.
Future projects include a Ministry of Defence office, a Multiversity college campus, and another multi-storey car park, all set to begin soon.