Published at 12:44, Friday, 25 January 2013

Changes to improve safety at a junction on the A66 between Workington and Cockermouth are unlikely to happen before 2015.

The staggered junction at Brigham and Broughton has been the scene of several accidents.

Motorcyclist Paul Fursey died in a collision there last October.

Mick Crombleholme, 73, of Church Meadows, Great Broughton, launched a campaign in November for a mini-roundabout to prevent more accidents.

He was told this week by the Highways Agency it was unlikely that any improvements would go ahead before 2015 because of the bureaucratic stages it would have to go through.

Mr Crombleholme said: “This is a very long-winded process that seems to be set in stone and my main worry is that somebody could be hurt at that junction in the meantime.

“A lot can happen in this period and we want to make everybody aware of the situation.”

He also wants right turns banned at the junction after he and his wife Joan counted more than 1,200 manoeuvres there in just three hours last year.

The Highways Agency is carrying out surveys to identify the nature and scale of the problem and expects them to be completed by April.

The proposed project will then be assessed against a set of criteria to ensure the best value for money.

A bid to fund the scheme would be made in September, with the decision the following January.

A detailed design could be drawn up after April 2014, with construction taking place after April 2015.

But the agency added that if the scheme was smaller, the timescale could be shortened, with work starting in April 2014.

The agency wants to gather information from people who use the junctions.

Motorists are urged to email full details of their experiences, including dates and times, to nicky.cockburn@allerdale.gov.uk

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk