Road Works to Continue Until 2008

25/10/2007

Work on a major road project in one of the busiest parts of Barrow in Cumbria is set to go on until long after the New Year’s Eve celebrations are over.

The £2.4m scheme involves making environmental improvements and introducing a new traffic system to the Ironworks Road area of town. Contractors started on the project in August, but it looks unlikely to be finished until well after New Year’s Eve.

Justin Hawkins, a spokesman for Cumbria County Council, told the North West Evening Mail: “The road works themselves are expected to be complete by the end of January, early February. Completion of the landscaping work will follow shortly.”

The scheme will create one-way systems on several major roads as well as new traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and environmental improvements such as paving, grass laying, seating, lighting and tree planting.

Local MPs and councillors claim the scheme is an important part of current regeneration efforts in the town, but residents and businesses disagree, claiming it will actually increase congestion. They are unhappy that the work will continue beyond this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, and are unconvinced of its benefits even when completed.

More than 120 taxi drivers in the town have signed a petition opposing the scheme. Henry Fayyazi, spokesman for Barrow Taxi Drivers’ Association, organised called the scheme “fundamentally flawed” and “ill-thought out”. Mr Fayyazi said: “It’s wasting public money and it’s not going to help the traffic whatsoever.”