'Manual override' of traffic lights targets delays

Serious congestion has been reported at the junction even during off-peak times

Temporary traffic lights should be controlled manually at peak times to minimise congestion during ongoing roadworks, an energy company has said.

The permit for works being carried out by SP Electricity North West on one of the major routes to and from Preston said human oversight of traffic signals was required between 07:00 and 19:00 every day.

The company said it had staff available to "intervene" in how the traffic lights at the four-way junction of the A59 and A565, near Tarleton in West Lancashire, function between those times.

Significant delays have still been reported in the area, even during off-peak times, since the work began on Monday.

'Minimise disruption'

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands it took motorists heading towards Preston from Liverpool Road about 20 minutes to get through the junction early on Thursday afternoon, with queuing vehicles heading back towards Rufford.

Ten-minute delays were also reported on Southport Old Road at the same time.

A spokesperson for SP Electricity North West said nearly two miles (3km) of underground electricity cables were being installed as part of work designed to improve the long-term resilience of the area's power network.

"We appreciate working in the highway is disruptive and to help minimise disruption, we have traffic management operatives on site from 7am until 7pm, seven days a week to intervene and operate the signals.

"All work, agreed by the local authority, was communicated in advance as teams hand delivered letters and used advanced warning signage."