Published at 16:50, Monday, 20 August 2012

SAFETY improvements on the A590 could save lives, campaigners have claimed.

Last week the Highways Agency confirmed that a new roundabout will be built at Greenodd, following years of complaints from residents and several serious accidents at the junction.

And a host of other improvements are also set to be made on the road, including new speed limits at Newlands and Newby Bridge and improvements at the Witherslack underpass.

Councillor Janet Willis, who represents Low Furness on Cumbria County Council, was part of a group who met transport secretary Mike Penning in June, and said it was excellent news to hear the minister’s promise confirmed in a report by the agency.

She said: “I felt positive after the meeting that it would happen but to have it confirmed is absolutely fantastic. Everybody is over the moon.

“We have been disappointed before but this time I feel it is going to be done.

“I represent the whole of the Low Furness area and every parish council has said people (in their area) use the junction.”

Cllr Willis said residents of Greenodd had been concerned about the safety of the junction since the bypass was built and previous changes may have created confusion amongst drivers.

The improvements also include adding lighting and a traffic control system at the Witherslack underpass and Councillor David Ingram, chairman of Witherslack Parish Council, said the tunnel helped to keep drivers and cyclists safe.

He said: “The important thing for us is that the underpass is desperately needed. The overpass is like crossing a motorway and it is very dangerous.

“As a parish council our concern was to keep it open and we are very pleased that the improvements are going ahead.”

The scheme has also been welcomed by Cumbria police. Inspector Andy Wilkinson, of the Cumbria roads policing unit, said: “Cumbria police work closely with partner agencies to improve road safety and welcome any new initiative to improve the safety of our county’s road. The introduction of this speed reduction will hopefully assist in improving road safety in the area.”

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