Roadworks will get under way at a busy Durham City junction next week as part of a scheme to make it safer for people to cross.
Durham County Council is carrying out the works on the A177 Stockton Road junction with Quarryheads Lane, South Road and Church Street Head.
The four-way junction is very well used by students crossing to and from the Durham University campus.
The works, which start on Monday (10 July), will involve the removal of the two crossing islands, allowing pedestrians to cross in one movement.
Craig MacLennan, Durham County Council’s transport and infrastructure manager, said: “This is a very busy junction and its crossings are used by a large number of students.
“At peak times it can be a tight squeeze as everybody tries to fit on the crossing islands and it can leave some people spilling over onto the road itself, which poses a safety risk.
“We’re revamping the junction by removing the crossing islands so people can just cross in one go.
“We apologise in advance for any disruption but will be carrying out the works in phases and doing as much as we can during the summer holidays to keep it to a minimum.
“We’re also advising pedestrians to follow the signed diversion routes and drivers to allow extra time for their journeys as there may be some delays.”
The junction’s traffic lights will also be upgraded during the works to improve traffic flow.
And a number of nearby parking bays along Church Street Head will also be suspended during the works to make way for traffic management arrangements.
Funding for this £1million scheme will come from the £2.8million the council secured from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund to support walking and cycling improvements in Durham City.
The scheme is expected to be completed in Autumn this year.
The council is also reviewing opportunities to secure additional funding to improve conditions for cyclists connecting the university with the wider city centre.
