A ROAD improvement scheme will see lanes of one of Lancashire’s busiest motorways closed from today.

The work will take place on the eastbound carriageway between Junction 4 at Blackpool and Junction 3 at Kirkham.

A drain has collapsed in the motorway verge causing a crack in the hard shoulder and across the main carriageway into lane two.

To minimise inconvenience and disruption to motorway users the work will be split into three phases.

A new drain is being installed between today and Thursday and requiring the round-the-clock closure of lane one and the hard shoulder.

The reconstruction of the carriageway will be taking place in the second phase of work between 8pm on Friday and 6am on Monday.

The hard shoulder and lanes one and two of the three lanes will be shut for this work, leaving only a single lane running eastbound.

The third phase of the work will take place between 8pm on Friday, February 25, and 6am on Monday, February 28 with the closure of all three carriageway lanes for resurfacing and the hard shoulder being used as a single running lane instead.

During phases two and three a 50mph speed limit will be in place for the safety of motorway users and roadworkers.

On both weekends direct access from the A5320 onto the M55 where the roads merge will also be closed.

Drivers on the A5320 out of Blackpool will instead have to leave the A5320 at Marton Circle roundabout and join the M55 from there via the Junction 4 eastbound entry slip.

Highways Agency project sponsor Phil Davies said, "This is essential maintenance and repair work which we need to do to maintain safe and reliable journeys for motorway users in this part of Lancashire.

"We have timed the work to cause as little inconvenience as possible outside key holiday periods.

"We will have two lanes open when work is taking place during the week and the restriction to one lane will only be in place during the two weekend phases.

"There will be no roadworks at all in place when Blackpool host Spurs in the midweek Premiership game on Tuesday, so fans can get away from the game smoothly."