All major roads in town centre to finally reopen as £60million development nears completion

Working in partnership with Lancashire County Council and contract partner Balfour Beatty, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has confirmed the final timetable for the reopening of highways connected with the development of its new £60million Student Centre and University Square in Preston.

While the new two-way layout on Fylde Road and the redesigned one-way system on Adelphi Street opened on Friday September 17, the University section of Corporation Street is scheduled to reopen on September 24.

Maudland Road, which is currently being used as a works compound for Balfour Beatty, will be the last section of highway to be reopened in October once the area has been cleared and fully refurbished.

All uncontrolled highway crossing points are now open while all signal-controlled crossing points are expected to be fully operational by Friday at the latest.

On Maudland Road, a new signal-controlled crossing point will become operational once the road fully reopens.

UCLan’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce this final schedule which signals the full reopening of all highways connected with the development of our new Student Centre and University Square.

"I would like to thank our project partners at Balfour Beatty who have turned our highways vision for the area into reality as well as colleagues at Lancashire County Council who supported our plans from the very start.

“I would also like to thank the public for their patience and co-operation which has now resulted in a fantastic new gateway to the University and to the city which we can enjoy for many years to come.”

Balfour Beatty Operations Manager, Graeme Moffat, added: “This Friday will see the culmination of the hard work and tenacity of our teams and supply chain partners, who have worked efficiently and safely through what has been an incredibly challenging period.

“I would like to thank the public again for their co-operation and continued patience during the works.”

Cabinet member for highways and transport, County Councillor Charlie Edwards, said: "The way the area around the new Student Centre has been so completely transformed is extremely impressive and a testament to how closely our highways team and Balfour Beatty have worked together with UCLan to achieve their original vision.

"This has been a rare opportunity to design and construct buildings and public space together from scratch, and the result is that they fit seamlessly together and will work really well for everyone who studies, works in and visits the Adelphi Quarter.

"Prioritising the needs of pedestrians and cyclists has made this area much nicer to visit, and we'll be looking to continue this theme with the improvements planned for Friargate and Ringway to create a sustainable transport corridor linking the University and the city centre.”