£4.5M upgrade for Rising Bridge roundabout

£4.5M upgrade of Rising Bridge roundabout next month will benefit cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.

Highways England is providing new traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes, linking villages, schools and businesses on either side of the busy A56.

The roundabout which links the A56 to the A680 Blackburn Road, will also be resurfaced and new lights will be installed.

Intelligent traffic lights will feature as part of the scheme, which will use sensors in the road to monitor traffic approaching from each direction, adjusting the lights accordingly.

The lights will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross when it is safest to do so, and will remain on green for a longer period of time at the busier junctions.

The work is due to begin in February and expected to be completed in May.

Highways England Project Manager John Lyssejko said: “We’re improving some of England’s busiest A roads so that they support local communities as well as the drivers passing through them, and I’m pleased that the scheme at Rising Bridge roundabout will serve villages, schools and businesses in the area.

“We’ve had an enthusiastic reaction from local residents’ groups, businesses and head teachers to our plan, and we’ll do all we can to minimise disruption while work is taking place.”

Ann Taylor, Secretary of the Friends of Acre Village, said: “Highways England have taken our problems on board and engaged in a really positive dialogue with us about what could realistically be done to improve pedestrian safety in this part of the village.”

Highways England have been working on a series of safety improvements along a 2.5 mile stretch of the A56 near Haslingden, between two roundabouts which link the A56 to the A680, including Rising Bridge roundabout.

A pedestrian crossing is being upgraded which links Rising Bridge Road to Hall Park housing estate, along with new steel safety barriers. A new island is being created in the centre of the A56, to make it easier for residents  to safely cross from one side to the other.

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