Development of the new M6 Link Road to Heysham continues with the HGV movement strategy now being discussed.

The completion of the Heysham to M6 Link Road is one of the largest road construction projects currently managed by a local authority in England. At a cost of £128.62 million, it will directly connect the Heysham and Morecambe peninsula to a reconfigured Junction 34 of the M6. This is particularly important for Heysham Port, which provides ferry routes to Belfast, The Isle of Man, Dublin and Warrenpoint. 

The primary objectives of the Heysham to M6 Link are to:

• Improve communications between Heysham, Morecambe and the M6 motorway, including improving access to Heysham Port and surrounding areas
• Facilitate industrial and commercial regeneration and provide employment opportunities
• Remove a significant volume of traffic from River Lune bridges in Lancaster city centre
• Create opportunities for the enhancement of alternative travel modes by relieving the current traffic conditions

To enable these objectives to be realised a number of measures are to be introduced as part of the Development Consent Order. These measures are effectively intended to ensure that the benefits of the new link road are felt across the wider Lancaster area. The key priority in relation to this strategy is the management of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) so as to make the most effective use the new link road.

Mark Stephens, Director at Freightlink says

"The new link road will reduce travel time to Heysham port by over an hour at peak times. This will provide many major benefits to all HGVs and ferry services operating from Heysham."

The consultation has begun and will last for 6 weeks until Monday 12th September.