THE father of a young man who was killed while crossing a junction off the East Lancs Road has welcomed a decision by the Highways Agency to implement extra safety measures on the Carr Mill junction.

Peter Byrnes' son Brian was killed at the nearby Green Leach Lane junction in October 1998, just a few days short of his 20th birthday and Peter has been lobbying both St Helens Council and the Highways Agency to get something done ever since.

Improvements will start on the Green Leach Lane junction this year, followed, next January, by the main £350,000 safety improvement scheme on the East Lancs' junction with Carr Mill.

The improvements are expected to be completed by May and will incorporate separately-signalled lanes for east and west-bound cars turning right and signal-controlled pedestrian facilities across the East Lancs on both sides of the junction. A safer pedestrian area protected by a guardrail, will also be provided.

Peter, of Penryn Avenue, Laffak, told the Star: "I am pleased about the improvements although they are not before time. However, the issue of street lighting to improve visibility, both for drivers and pedestrians, also has to be addressed and I hope the safety scheme will take this into consideration."

A delighted Councillor Carole Kavanagh told the Star: "The safety scheme is great news for the area. I have been petitioning the Highways Agency to get something done for more than a year now."

Councillor Terry Hanley, St Helens Council's Cabinet member for Highways, told the Star: "Both myself and St Helens MP, Dave Watts have been lobbying for improved safety measures for two years. The council's main concern has always been for the safety of pedestrians crossing roads and future improvements also include a mini-roundabout on Woodlands Road by its junction with Islands Brow where a number of accidents have taken place in recent years."