Diversions

The tramway upgrade and Promenade road remodel work is entering a new phase with changes to the diversions. Broadwater crossing is open so the 14 has reverted to its usual route except for the diversions in Fleetwood and Blackpool.

Line 14 is currently diverted twice in Fleetwood. The most recent is a diversion via Poulton Street due to the tramway trackwork which has closed Lofthouse Way crossing. Here 315 makes its way round its detour.

In Cleveleys the 1 and 7 have regained their standard route but Victoria Square crossing is now closed. The 3 now has a terminal loop arriving in Cleveleys via North Drive and Victoria Road West to terminate at Victoria Square and then back to Blackpool as normal via the Crescent and Anchorsholme Lane.

As Anchorsholme Lane crossing is also closed, the 4 is diverted from Norbreck via Fleetwood Road to Cleveleys bus it is still able to serve North Drive and Valeway Avenue on its return to Blackpool. The 9 and 16 run as normal to Victoria Square then left onto Crescent East, across the tramway at Lauderdale Avenue back along Crescent West with the 9 turning into Victoria Road West to reach Cleveleys Bus Station and the 16 crossing the tramway at York Avenue to reach Victoria Square loading point. The 9 returns to Blackpool via its normal route.

In the town centre last week saw the standardisation of the use of Park Road and Reads Avenue for southbound buses, rather than Adelaide Street and Coronation Street, the latter often subject to delays on busy days. Reads Avenue or Palatine Road have been used when recent roadworks have closed Coronation Street.

Other diversions in the Town Centre are the result of the closure from Adelaide Street to Talbot Square from Sunday evening until 17 June; with access now available to the Promenade southound between Gynn Square and Talbot Square.

Southbound service 1 will continue to divert at Gynn Square via Dickson Road but only as far as Pleasant Street before turning onto the Promenade and into Talbot Square. Northbound buses will use the full length of Dickson Road. The 3, 4 and 15 will also use the Promenade from Pleasant Street. [corrected]

Northbound buses on the 1A, 5, 7, 10, 11, 14 and 17 are diverted via Chapel Street (1A, 11) then Central Drive, Albert Road, Cookson Street, Talbot Road to reach Market Street or Clifton Street - there is to be no bus stop between Chapel Street (Central Pier for 1A and 11) and Cookson Street (old Bus Station).

Weight restrictions on Skew Bridge - already designated 'weak' like many over the South Fylde line in recent years - are now causing diversions to the 5, 10, 11 and 68 from the end of February. In 2008 Delta 126 climbs the bridge.

Allied to this, a further weight restriction has been imposed on Skew Bridge on Lytham Road and it appears buses are no longer exempt. This has major impacts on the 5, 10 and 11 which divert from Monday:

• 5 withdrawn from Business Park and will divert at Lytham Road/Watson Road via Watson Road, Bond Street and Station Road in both directions
• 10 is diverted for virtually half its route as it will continue along Central Drive from the Town Centre diversion to St. Annes Road Bridge and then turn left onto Watson Road and vice versa on return journeys. It will no longer serve Lytham Road.
• 11 will follow the same diversion as the 5 between Lytham Road/Watson Road and Station Road. 

The 5 and 11 will be retimed to reflect the route change and it is not known how long the diversion will last nor if the removal of service from the Business Park is permanent.

The weak bridge on Lytham Road needs emergency repairs and single file traffic flow has been imposed prior to complete closure to buses from next week. Trident 322 and Solo 261 head down the bridge on services 11 and 5 which will be subject to diversion from Monday.

The 5's extension into the Business Park at Squires Gate ends on 27 February. This shouldn't inconvenience many and will give a better service to passengers boarding on Lindale Gardens who are no longer to be subjected to the tour of light industry. The 5 has suffered reliability problems for most of its life and this change may help address these, albeit offset by the lengthy diversions..

Sundry short term diversions have impacted on various routes with the 5 and 7 diverted away from St. Annes Road at Halfway House for a couple of days last week (the 5 via Common Edge Road and the 7 via Lytham Road). The next is the 4 which is to be diverted in Cleveleys Park via Ringway, Blaydon Avenue, North Drive and Newcastle Avenue for around six weeks.