The M55 will be closed in both directions for three nights this week, beginning this evening (Monday 8th November). The closures will be in place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday to Wednesday, said Lancashire County Council.  The details are as follows:

• Monday, November 8 (Overnight – 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) – Full closure eastbound between junctions 1-3
• Tuesday, November 9 (Overnight – 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) – Full closure westbound between junctions 1-3 and lanes 1 & 2 closed eastbound.
• Wednesday, November 10 (Overnight – 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) – Lanes 1 & 2 closed westbound.

Further closures are planned to take place in the coming weeks, including reduced lanes between junctions 1 and 3 to complete the new junction works.

The hard shoulder and lane one will be closed in both directions between junctions 1 and 3 from Tuesday 9th November  (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) until Winter 2022.

There will be further closures of the motorway throughout 2022 for the footbridge demolition, installation of the gantries and new junction layout, exact dates will be confirmed nearer the time.

Once the new layout reopens, the section through the new junction 2 on the westbound carriageway will be permanently reduced to two lanes as lane one becomes the new slip road.

The completion date for the Preston Western Distributor Road (PWDR) is set for Spring 2023.

The Preston Western Distributor is a major new road which will link Preston and Southern Fylde to the M55 motorway. Scheduled to open early in 2023, this £200m road scheme is the biggest new road programme in the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal.

Lancashire County Council say it will help to promote new housing and business development in the area, while increasing capacity on the existing local road network. The new road will link the A583 and the M55 motorway.