Improvements at key junction 'to take 6-8 weeks'

Several sets of traffic lights are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, the council said

Work to replace ageing traffic lights and make key junctions more accessible to all pedestrians is due to begin later in Preston.

Lancashire County Council said the improvements to the A6 Garstang Road's junction with Blackpool Road were expected to take six to eight weeks with "the most disruptive elements" initially taking place overnight.

Previous works at Garstang Road's junction with Moor Lane and the Stanley Street junction with Church Street, near HMP Preston, have been completed ahead of schedule.

The traffic lights have reached the end of their life and are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, the council said.

'Continued patience'

To minimise disruption, further traffic light replacement works will be carried out on Garstang Road, Black Bull Lane and Sharoe Green Lane during the school summer holidays in July and August.

Matt Townsend, director of highways and transport, said: "It is important for us to carefully plan these works and undertake replacements as the traffic lights age and begin to become worn out.

"We're also going to bring the existing controlled pedestrian facilities at these locations up to modern standards and make them more accessible for blind and partially sighted users.

"We would like to thank people for their continued patience throughout these essential works."