Wellingborough kerbs and barriers upgraded to improve safety

Temporary traffic lights near a busy Wellingborough junction have been scheduled to start today to allow for improvement works to protect pedestrians from HGVs and other vehicles.

Despite existing barriers being in place on the pavement where Westfield Road joins Northampton Road, some drivers fail to negotiate the bend and have mounted the kerb, damaging the metal guardrail.

Twenty-four-hour three-way traffic lights will allow crews from Northamptonshire Highways to install new high kerbs and barriers to protect those using the pavement.

Jason Smithers, cabinet member for highways and place for Northamptonshire County Council, said: “Northamptonshire Highways has now started works to improve safety at this location.

"We are installing new high kerbs and a new pedestrian guardrail. There will be three-way lights on 24 hours between March 15 and March 18. The works themselves will be carried out during the hours of 9am and 3.30pm.

“When programming works, we consider the impact on all road users and plan our works to minimise disruption.”

Motorists have been asked to allow extra journey time and residents have been asked to keep the area clear of parked cars to allow a set of three-way traffic signals to be used for the 'essential' works.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Highways added: "We hope that any inconvenience can be tolerated for this relatively short duration of the works."