A transformative National Highways bypass in Lancashire will deliver “an environmental legacy for generations to come” thanks to the planting of hundreds of thousands of shrubs and trees.
The final planting of 360,000 plants, including more than 72,000 trees and shrubs, has recently been completed at the A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool bypass, creating an 18.2 per cent biodiversity net gain, leaving a lasting legacy beyond the functional benefits of the bypass alone.
National Highways project manager Dan Moore said:
“This scheme has gone above and beyond environmentally, not only delivering National Highways’ objective of ensuring there is ‘no net loss’ to biodiversity but creating an 18.2 per cent net gain. That is a magnificent testament to the hard work of everyone involved at every level.
“Our projects are not just about building roads; it’s about building a legacy, and that includes improving the environment for the communities we are involved with, helping people enjoy healthier lives.”
The completion of the three-mile bypass was celebrated last year. Built around the village of Little Singleton it has brought much-needed capacity to deliver smoother, safer and more reliable journeys for everyone, reducing congestion and lessening the impact of traffic on the local community by removing a major bottleneck to Fleetwood.
Enhancing the environment was a key consideration of the project. Ponds, woodland and species rich grassland areas have also been enriched or newly introduced as part of the scheme, but the work didn’t stop there, with further environmentally friendly improvements including safe crossings for wildlife beneath the bypass and the creation of bird mitigation areas for special species.
Local road Mains Lane was also upgraded to improve safety for cyclists, walkers and horse riders.
The bypass has been successfully delivered by National Highways and its partners Kier, with the team also working to provide a positive legacy through their community engagement initiatives, many undertaken with the environment in mind.
(Pic: National Highways)
