NEARLY £500,000 is set to be spent improving the main bus corridor between Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Responsive traffic lights are set to be installed or considered for a number of junctions along the A682 between the three boroughs, as used by the X43 service, this coming year.

And a major new controlled crossing has been pencilled in to provide better pedestrian links across Bacup Road and St Mary’s Way, in Rawtenstall.

An investment of £220,000 has been outlined to county councillors, including the replacement of the subway under St Mary’s Way with a toucan crossing.

County engineers will be promoting the use of ‘MOVA’ (microprocessor optimised vehicle actuation) lights, which are said to be more adaptable for congested routes.

Proposals have been drawn up to install MOVA lights, alongside a right-hand turn lane, at the Tup Bridge junction, of St Mary’s Way and Newchurch Road, for £100,000 The same system will also be employed around the Rawtenstall gyratory, with a £110,000 price tag, and a review will be undertaken of traffic light timings for the junction outside the town’s Asda store.

If the first four schemes come in under budget then consideration will also be given to creating a pedestrian crossing at Tup Bridge.

Edward Downer, transport planner for county council consultants Jacobs UK, said: “One of the key objectives of Lancashire County Council’s local transport plan is to improve economic performance and regeneration through the introduction of initiatives focused on reducing congestion, improving journey time reliability and increasing sustainable travel patterns.”

Checks will be carried out at key crossroads to ensure traffic lights are working effectively, costing around £50,000, according to engineers. This will include where the A682 meets Glen View Road, Casterton Avenue, Ringwood Avenue and Halifax Road, and the co-ordination of signals on Nelson’s Broadway.