Bay Gateway Can Get Region Growing Again
Well we’re just a few days away from the eagerly anticipated opening of the ‘Bay Gateway’ which links Morecambe and Heysham to the M6 at junction 34.
This work completely changed the eastern gateway to Lancaster, transforming an apologetic afterthought of a motorway junction into a highway designer’s paradise. It is hoped that the new link road will remove a considerable amount of traffic from the existing approach to the city centre and the two bridges over the river Lune.
While the debate still murmurs locally whether the right route was chosen in the first place; businesses such as ours are hoping that the road will affect us positively in the following ways:
REDUCING TRAVEL TIMES
Firstly, travel times to and from Lancaster should improve noticeably. This will be good for Clients coming to visit us and also assist us going about daily business. Not only will the new road improve travel times to the M6, but it will also reduce journey times between Lancaster and Morecambe.
Secondly, the road will ‘unlock’ Morecambe and the port of Heysham, which in turn will hopefully encourage development and further regeneration. We are expecting to see a rise in enquiries for business and warehouse buildings on the corridor of the new road; particularly in the White Lund and Heysham Port areas. Our practice has a great expertise in designing and delivering commercial buildings, and we are well placed to assist those who want to invest in this area.
BOOSTING TOURISM
There is hope that the new road will also improve the connection between Lancaster and the motorway as well. The city centre has a great deal potential to become a tourist venue with the ongoing redevelopment of Lancaster Castle and the numerous wonderful historic buildings we have on our doorstep.
The ability to get in and out of Lancaster more easily will undoubtedly help with improving the attractiveness of the city as a tourist destination. Our practice has already noticed an increase in enquiries to assist with leisure projects in the area in recent months. Further afield, the new road promises to reduce traffic to the north of Lancaster and Morecambe, especially in Carnforth.
REGENERATING LANCASTER AND MORECAMBE
I hope that the knock-on opportunities created by the new road are also embraced; for instance there is a fantastic chance to improve the approaches to the Lancaster on both Caton Road and Slyne Road; and to also continue with regeneration projects in Lancaster city centre and Morecambe town centre.
Therefore, after a wait of over 50 years, the new road finally arrives. Let’s hope it brings new investment into the area and delivers economic benefits for the wider district.
Written by Richard Woolridge, Director at HPA.
To explore the latest news at HPA, click here.
