Good News for Communities Near A56 Rising Bridge Roundabout

Good news for local communities in Acre village, Sherfin hamlet and Rising Bridge, Lancashire. Highways England is to begin a comprehensive £4.5 million scheme to provide safe pedestrian crossings and designated cycle routes, linking villages, schools and businesses on either side of the busy A56 Rising Bridge roundabout near Haslingden.

Work to transform the roundabout will take around twelve weeks beginning in February with new lighting. New traffic lights will then be installed, and the carriageway resurfaced and redesigned to include dedicated cycle lanes. New landscaping will follow. The scheme is due for completion in May 2016. A web page has been set up for local people and drivers who use the A56 to access information about the scheme, the work and the traffic management plans.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/A56-Rising-Bridge-Roundabout

The scheme will feature ‘intelligent’ traffic lights, which will use sensors in the road to monitor traffic approaching from each direction and adjust 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 longer at the busiest junctions.

Rossendale Borough Council Leader, Cllr Alyson Barnes, welcomed this work saying; “We’re really pleased about the planned improvements to the roundabout. This has always been a key priority for Haslingden Neighbourhood Forum and it is credit to the forum to see this confirmation of work.”  

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.”

“When the scheme is complete, drivers and residents will be able to benefit from new traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes, as well as brighter and smoother journeys through the roundabout.”

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.

“This busy road and roundabout has been a significant barrier as people have not felt safe enough to walk to local shops, let their children walk to school or visit their friends and family,” she said.