Lockdown efforts pave way for road improvements

22 Jun 2020 09:27
Published by:

Road improvement projects have made “significant progress” despite the lockdown, as Bolton Council continues to upgrade the road network across the borough.

An estimated 17 miles of roads have been relined, with crews taking advantage of reduced traffic to complete the work.

Teams have also taken the time to mark “thank you NHS” and “thank you carers” messages at various locations to show Bolton’s support for key workers during the pandemic.

In addition, repairs are continuing as part of Bolton Council’s commitment to spend an additional £12million to upgrade some of the most dilapidated roads and pavements in the borough.

Since the beginning of lockdown, work has been carried on roads in Horwich and Blackrod, Westhoughton, Farnworth and Harper Green.

More projects are due to start this month in wards across the borough.

Funding for the project was announced last year with each ward allocated an equal share and a priority list of roads for each area drawn up by local councillors.

A schedule of upcoming projects is available on the council website.

Meanwhile, the £600,000 resurfacing and traffic signal upgrades at the junction of Bury Road and Crompton Way have been completed as scheduled.

The signal upgrades will make this busy junction more efficient, improve pedestrian access and ease congestion in other parts of Bolton.

Work is now underway on the innovative £2.4m transformation of at the junction of Trinity Street, Newport Street and Thynne Street.

Once completed, it will be only the second CYcle Optimised Protected Signals Design (CYCLOPS) junction in Greater Manchester.

 The principal feature of a CYCLOPS junction is an orbital cycle route that separates cyclists from other modes of traffic.

Both junction improvement projects are delivered by Bolton Council and Transport for Greater Manchester as part of a set of wider highway improvements included within the Salford Bolton Network Improvement Programme.

Stuart Haslam, Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for highways and transport, Cllr Stuart Haslam, said: “Lockdown has caused a great deal of disruption, but I am delighted that the council has been able to deliver these vital projects thanks to the hard work of everyone involved.

“Whether traveling by bus, car, bike or on foot, I’m sure all residents will benefit from the vast improvements that are being made to our highways network during lockdown.

“The progress made, especially in road lining, is very significant. It will assist motorists in driving responsibly and will greatly improve road safety.

“Safety of staff and the public has been our number one priority throughout, and all of the work has been carried out in accordance with government guidelines.”

 

You may be interested in