Lancashire County Council has appointed Costain to design and deliver a sustainable and innovative road scheme that will transform how people travel around the region.

Working collaboratively, Costain will develop the plans for the Lancashire County Council led project which includes a £100m highways infrastructure programme, a new layout for junction 33 of the M6, link road and access to the proposed Bailrigg garden village.

Ian Richardson, Costain local authority director, said: "This project will support economic growth in the region by providing an accessible, sustainable, and integrated road network. Collaborating with the county council on this scheme provides an opportunity to introduce specialist expertise to develop ground-breaking zero carbon solutions that improve the lives of the people who live and work in south Lancaster.”

Costain will provide detailed design and stakeholder engagement, as well as the construction work, once planning approval is in place.

Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth at Lancashire County Council, said: "By bringing in Costain, we will be utilising their extensive experience on other schemes to develop this exciting programme of transport improvement work. Our bold plans will help people to get around more easily, reduce congestion and unlocking sites for new homes for workers and their families in this growing city.”

Costain worked with the county council on the award-winning Bay Gateway in the Lancaster areas, which opened in 2016 and links junction 34 of the M6 with the Morecambe and Heysham peninsula. The new scheme will build on the successful and ongoing delivery of the Preston Western Distributor Road project and form part of the overall South Lancaster Growth Catalyst programme.

The South Lancaster Growth Catalyst programme includes:

• Reconfiguration of M6 junction 33 that will reduce traffic in Galgate;
• West Coast Mainline underpass giving access to the proposed Bailrigg Garden Village and improvements to Hazelrigg Lane;
• A new road through Bailrigg Garden Village/South Lancaster Strategic Growth Area, and a new canal bridge;
• A new Park & Ride facility;
• Changes to Lancaster's one-way system to create bus priority routes and car-free areas;
• Cycle superhighway linking the city centre with the university, the Health Innovation Campus, and the Bailrigg Garden Village/South Lancaster Strategic Growth Area.

Proposals are currently being developed and will include public consultation. Planning approval will be required before any construction work can begin.