Ground tests for the HARP water tunnel are under way in the ribble valley this spring as United Utilities prepares site investigations ahead of major river crossings, and nearby highway works are adding pressure on local routes. The B6478 north of Clitheroe is the focus of short-term tests this month and in April (ET), with temporary traffic lights planned for brief periods. Lancashire County Council and local planners are coordinating access while community liaison roles are being established.
Ribble Valley ground investigations: where and what
Ground investigation works are taking place on and near two sections of the B6478 road north of Clitheroe towards Newton in Bowland. One test area is on the high section of the B6478 Slaidburn Road north of Waddington, close to Waddington Fell Quarry; the other is around Hallgate Hill near Newton in Bowland on private farmland west of the road, near the River Hodder. The Ribble Valley Council update says no road closures are required for these tests, but temporary traffic lights will be used around Waddington Fell for one or two days at each test location.
These investigations form part of the wider HARP scheme led by United Utilities, which will replace sections of a 110km pipeline from the Lake District to Greater Manchester and includes planned river crossings at the Ribble and Hodder. The council update notes that ecological surveys are ongoing, archaeological reports for the proposed river crossings and access roads are complete, utility surveys have started, and trial holes near bridges are due this month (ET). Cascade Infrastructure, including Strabag UK among its partners, has been appointed to design, build, maintain and finance the scheme, which carries an estimated construction cost stated in project materials.
Local traffic disruption and bridge works
At the same time as HARP ground tests, roadworks to widen a pinch-point bridge at Skew Bridge on Preston Road have begun, with improvements intended to allow buses and HGVs to pass both ways. Works to the Skew Bridge and nearby junctions started on Tuesday, March 10 (ET) and are expected to last up to six weeks. Temporary traffic lights will control traffic while crews work, and Preston Road is due to be closed overnight on Tuesday, March 17 (ET) for the installation of new bridge beams. Further overnight and multi-week closures are planned in mid-April (ET) as resurfacing and markings are completed.
These projects have already affected peak travel. A Lancashire County Council spokesperson called a recent failure to staff manually controlled temporary lights on Preston Road “unacceptable” after motorists and bus passengers endured delays of more than an hour. The council spokesperson said: “Work is now underway, and we have instructed our contractor that the temporary lights must be staffed from 7am to 7pm, with manual adjustments made during peak periods. ” The contractor AEYates is named in project materials as the operator responsible for manual control during the works.
Immediate reactions and community engagement
The Ribble Valley Council update highlights plans to improve communications with communities affected by HARP and related works. The update states: “Cascade Infrastructure and Strabag UK have begun the process of addressing requirements for a community liaison officer. They have appointed a senior engagement manager and community liaison officer. And a meeting will be held with council officers to begin the community engagement process. ” A council spokesperson advising road users on the bridge project said: “Please leave more time for your journey if you’re travelling between Preston and Longridge over the coming weeks. “
What happens next
Ground tests will continue at the B6478 sites through this month and into April (ET) while planning applications for vegetation clearance, phasing of work, archaeological reports and site layouts for the Ribble and Hodder crossings are expected to be submitted soon. Construction staging for the broader HARP tunnel will follow further consent and planning stages; when full construction begins, tunnel workers and vehicles are to gather at a Clitheroe marshalling yard near the A59 then travel north on existing roads and some new access tracks and river crossings. Residents in the ribble valley should expect intermittent short-term traffic controls and scheduled overnight closures as the investigations and bridge works progress, with community liaison staff now in place to manage local enquiries.
