Plans to speed up traffic flow at Hyndburn junction (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Plans to speed up traffic flow at Hyndburn junction

12:54pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Hyndburn By Emma Cruces, Reporter

BUSY The junction of Dunkenhalgh Way, Henry Street, Hyndburn Road and Dill Hall Lane in Church

PLANS are in the pipeline to put a stop to daily queues at ‘East Lancashire’s worst junction’.

A county councillor has called for action at Hyndburn’s busiest throughfare after drivers complained they were waiting 20 minutes at busy periods.

County councillor Malcolm Pritchard has asked highways experts to consider revamping the traffic lights system at the junction of Dunkenhalgh Way, Henry Street, Hyndburn Road and Dill Hall Lane.

Coun Pritchard said that the lights do not allow a filter lane for traffic from Henry Street and Church to turn right, causing major queues as drivers wait for a lull before they can turn.

He has asked highways bosses to consider changing the lights sequence to allow drivers to turn on to Hyndurn Road and Dunkenhalgh Way.

The proposal would turn the crossroads from a semi controlled junction into one with all four directions controlled by lights.

Coun Pritchard said: “The queues are ridiculous, they stretch right down Henry Street and Dill Hall Lane.

"Without a break in the traffic lights, you can be sat there for twenty minutes just waiting to turn right, which is a real problem.

“It’s also causing problems with rat runs as drivers try to skip using this junction. Drivers are skipping through Whalley Road and Milnshaw Lane instead, so it affects traffic there too.”

Lancashire County Council Highways are surveying the junction this week, to see whether the lights should be changed.

Coun Pritchard said: “It’s the worst junction for miles it’s awful.

“It’s really bad and people complain and complain - you cant blame them.

“I have no doubt that LCC highways will find that it qualifies for the changes.

"Depending on how high the junction scores, affects how high a priority it will be for the work to get done”.