Lancashire Road Closure Planned for Underground Cabling Works

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Key Details of the Closure / Works

  • The works are for installation of underground fibre cabling (and possibly some overhead fibre as part of the network) on Lancashire Road. (cumberland.gov.uk)
  • The planned period is from 00:00 on Tuesday 14 October 2025 to 23:59 on Wednesday 15 October 2025. (cumberland.gov.uk)
  • The closure is authorized under a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) issued by Lancashire County Council. (Lancashire.gov.uk)
  • The purpose of the prohibition is to allow the fibre underground cabling works to proceed safely without conflict with traffic. (Lancashire.gov.uk)

Access, Traffic, and Diversion Arrangements

  • Vehicular access for residents will be maintained “whenever and wherever possible.” (Lancashire.gov.uk)
  • Pedestrian access to properties will always be maintained. (Lancashire.gov.uk)
  • The alternative (diversion) route for general traffic is via:

    Gorse Lane → Church Road → A565 Southport New Road → Moss Hey Lane → Legh Lane → Gorse Lane (and vice versa) (Lancashire.gov.uk)

Operational Details & Risks / Impacts

  • The works may require excavation / open-cut trenches in the carriageway for ducting, cable pulling, jointing, etc.
  • Because the works involve underground fibre infrastructure, there will likely be traffic management setups (barriers, cones, signage) to guide and protect both the contractors and road users.
  • During the closure period, through traffic on Lancashire Road will be suspended; local access only (subject to the constraints noted above).
  • There may be noise, dust, and temporary disruption to driveways, parking, and fronting premises during the works and reinstatement phase.
  • After works, the roadway / footway will be reinstated (i.e. surfaces repaired) — though there may be some residual minor disruption while materials settle or cure.

Timeline & Related Works

  • This specific TTRO is for 14–15 October 2025. (cumberland.gov.uk)
  • However, fibre / cabling works are happening in many nearby locations (roads in the same region) in similar time windows. (cumberland.gov.uk)
  • Separately, SP Energy Networks is undertaking upgrades on East Lancashire Road (electricity network works) which involve road digging and closure segments, running through to December 2025. (Knowsley News)
  • Over four weekends in September, road closures were also in place at the junction of Moorgate Road North and East Lancashire Road for network works. (Facebook)

  • Lancashire Road Closure — full case studies

    Below are three practical, evidence-based case studies that examine the Lancashire Road TTRO for underground fibre cabling (the planned closure) and compare it with two UK projects that faced similar operational, safety, and community-impact challenges. Each case study contains: background, objectives, timeline & stakeholders, operational approach (traffic management, safety, working methods), problems encountered, outcomes, and clear lessons/recommendations you can reuse for future works.

    Case study 1 — Lancashire Road (TTRO) — Temporary Closure for Underground & Overhead Fibre (14–15 Oct 2025)

    Background & objective
    Lancashire County Council issued a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) to allow Fibrus (a telecoms contractor) to carry out underground and overhead fibre cable installation on Lancashire Road. The order specified a short, targeted closure window to enable safe excavation, ducting, and cable jointing without through-traffic conflicts. (cumberland.gov.uk)

    Timeline & stakeholders

    • Planned works: 00:00 Tue 14 Oct → 23:59 Wed 15 Oct 2025 (dates from local roadworks notices). (cumberland.gov.uk)
    • Key stakeholders: Lancashire County Council (TTRO authority), Fibrus Networks Ltd (works), local residents/businesses, emergency services, and local highways teams (traffic management/signage). (cumberland.gov.uk)

    Operational approach

    • Full closure of Lancashire Road for through traffic during the TTRO; vehicular access to properties maintained “whenever and wherever possible”; pedestrian access preserved. A signed diversion route was specified via Gorse Lane → Church Road → A565 Southport New Road → Moss Hey Lane → Legh Lane → Gorse Lane (and vice versa). (Lancashire.gov.uk)
    • Typical on-site setup (expected): excavation/open-cut trenching, duct installation, cable pulling/jointing, temporary chambers, traffic management (cones, barriers, temporary signage), and reinstatement of surfacing after works. (cumberland.gov.uk)

    Problems / risks (observed or foreseeable)

    • Local access constraints: short windows and narrow roads often make maintaining resident access difficult — requiring frequent liaison and escorted access. (Lancashire.gov.uk)
    • Service strikes & safety risks: excavation near existing buried utilities risks damaging gas/electric/water assets unless clear avoidance measures are used. (See later case studies and HSE guidance.) (AfterAthena)
    • Traffic displacement: the diversion route uses local roads that may not be designed for increased heavy vehicle volumes, causing congestion and local complaint. (Lancashire.gov.uk)

    Outcomes (expected and recommended success measures)

    • If works are completed within the TTRO window and all reinstatement carried out to highways standard, the project meets its primary objectives: safe installation of fibre with minimal prolonged disruption. Success measures: zero utility strikes, minimal resident complaints, timely reinstatement, and documented handover to network operator.

    Lessons & recommendations (for contract teams / authorities)

    1. Pre-works utility verification: use up-to-date plans, CAT & Genny surveys, and, where available, shared mapping (digital asset records) before any digging. This reduces the chance of service strikes. (AfterAthena)
    2. Clear resident communications: issue leaflets, door-knocks, and digital notifications at least 7–14 days ahead, reiterating hours when access is restricted and contact numbers for site managers. (Lancashire.gov.uk)
    3. Traffic impact proofing: assess the diversion route capacity and, if necessary, schedule works overnight or use additional signage / stewarding to protect vulnerable junctions. (Lancashire.gov.uk)
    4. Contingency planning: build “buffer” days around TTROs when reinstatement is weather-dependent.
    5. Document safety & reinstatement outcomes for the highway authority sign-off.

    Case study 2 — Blackpool LFFN (Large-Scale Fibre Works) — delivery & traffic coordination lessons

    Background & objective
    The Blackpool LFFN (Local Fibre First Network) rollout represents a large-scale rollout of fibre infrastructure across urban corridors. The project required hundreds of chambers, complex interfaces with existing ducts, and rolling works across many streets — a useful comparator for the Lancashire Road local closure in terms of scale planning, stakeholder engagement, and traffic management. (Core Integrated Solutions)

    Timeline & stakeholders

    • Multi-month program across urban Blackpool; contractor: specialist fibre civil contractor (core-is in example), local authority highways, utility companies, and emergency services. (Core Integrated Solutions)

    Operational approach

    • Consolidated planning: The project used planned staging and regular liaison with the council to issue multiple TTROs and co-ordinate works to avoid repeated openings in the same carriageway.
    • Minimise digs & optimized chamber placement: Use of “meet me” marshalling chambers and careful interface work reduced repeated street opening and allowed the network to be built faster with fewer interventions. (Core Integrated Solutions)

    Problems encountered

    • Multiple interfaces: Interfacing with existing exchanges and utilities required careful sequencing to avoid blocking later stages.
    • Public disruption: Extended multi-street works caused resident frustration in areas used as diversion routes.

    Outcomes & benefits

    • The consolidation approach reduced total street opening time across the program and delivered a resilient fibre backbone that served multiple exchange points. (Core Integrated Solutions)

    Lessons & recommendations applicable to Lancashire Road

    • Where multiple works are planned regionally, coordinate TTROs and reinstate permanently where possible to avoid repeated openings (reduce lifecycle disruption).
    • Use centralised project phasing and shared asset registries to plan chamber placement and minimize repeated excavations.

    Case study 3 — Underground services avoidance & strike-prevention (NJUG / HSE / industry lessons)

    Background & objective
    Accidental strikes to buried utilities are a top safety and disruption risk for any small excavation. Several published case studies and guidance (NJUG, industry writeups, HSE investigations) show how avoiding unknown underground assets must be treated as a core deliverable. (Streetworks)

    Example incident (HV cable strike)

    • A documented case shows an HV cable strike caused by a contractor driving a steel road pin into a marked route. The investigation emphasised failures in site supervision, inadequate control measures, and insufficient verification of records — resulting in injury risk and major repair costs. (SPEnergyNetworks)

    Operational approach (best practice)

    • Three-step HSG47 approach: (1) desk study (records/plans), (2) non-intrusive detection (CAT & Genny, ground-penetrating radar where appropriate), (3) safe excavation (trial holes, hand-digging in target zones). (AfterAthena)
    • Minimum-dig technologies: Where possible, use directional drilling and micro-trenching to reduce open excavation extent and risk to surrounding assets. The NJUG case studies and industry deployments highlight the benefits: lower reinstatement time, reduced strike risk, and faster customer connect times. (Streetworks)

    Outcomes (if applied correctly)

    • Fewer utility strikes, lower insurance/repair costs, and improved safety records. Projects that adopted these measures reported smoother sign-offs and fewer resident complaints.

    Lessons & recommendations

    1. Always require CAT & Genny plus trial holes in the tender/scope for any road excavation.
    2. Use minimum-dig where it makes technical and commercial sense (e.g., micro-trenching, directional boring) to reduce surface disruption and reinstatement scope. (Streetworks)
    3. Robust supervision & permit-to-dig that enforces stopping work if records don’t match detection results (a key lesson from HV cable strike investigations). (SPEnergyNetworks)

    Practical checklist (for Lancashire Road / similar TTROs)

    1. Pre-works (12+ weeks where possible)
      • Submit TTRO application early (councils often require 12 weeks notice). (Lancashire.gov.uk)
      • Gather utility records, order CAT & Genny surveys, and allow budget/time for trial holes. (AfterAthena)
    2. Community & stakeholder engagement (7–14 days before at minimum)
      • Letters to residents, shopkeepers, parish councils; school/emergency service brief; digital updates. (Lancashire.gov.uk)
    3. Traffic & access strategy
      • Publish diversion maps, confirm carriageway widths on diversion route, plan stewarding for busy times, and maintain resident access where possible. (Lancashire.gov.uk)
    4. Safety & technical controls
      • HSG47 compliance, permit-to-dig on site, emergency isolation plans, and trained supervisors present. (AfterAthena)
    5. Works & reinstatement
      • Use minimum-dig where appropriate, record as-laid assets in a digital format for future works, reinstate to local authority specs, and hand over documentation for sign-off. (Core Integrated Solutions)

    Sources & further reading

    • Lancashire roadworks listing (Lancashire / Cumberland council pages) — Lancashire Road TTRO & roadworks entry for 14–15 Oct 2025. (cumberland.gov.uk)
    • Core-is case study — Blackpool LFFN project (fibre network rollout and chamber strategy). (Core Integrated Solutions)
    • NJUG / industry case studies on underground mapping and minimum-dig technology. (Streetworks)
    • AfterAthena article summarising HSG47 & avoiding underground services. (AfterAthena)
    • SP Energy Networks / HSE example — HV cable strike case study illustrating consequences of inadequate checks. (SPEnergyNetworks)

     

 

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