MORE work to improve road safety on the major routes into Darlington has got under way.

The borough council is spending £80,000 on enhancing safety at two pedestrian crossings on the town's Northgate.

The investment includes a £35,000 project at the crossing near the junction with Gladstone Street, to upgrade it to a puffin crossing.

Such crossings have been installed at various locations throughout the town since they were first introduced three years ago.

The crossings contain a number of sensors which detect pedestrians standing at the kerbside or crossing the road. The sensors are also able to detect vehicles approaching the crossing.

The signals use the information from the sensors to ensure pedestrians have enough time to cross safely, while stopping traffic for the shortest time possible. The lights on the puffin crossing will stay red until the crossing is clear.

A further £48,000 is also being spent to upgrade the crossing near the Odeon cinema to a toucan crossing.

When completed, it will have the same functions as the puffin crossing, as well as facilities for cyclists to cross safely.

The work is due to be completed by next month and has been warmly welcomed by council chiefs.

Nick Wallis, the council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Northgate is one of the busiest roads into the town centre.

"The new crossings have the capacity to improve road safety for pedestrians without unnecessary disruption to the flow of traffic."

The work follows the installation, last December, of three new puffin crossings costing £100,000, on Carmel Road, Woodlands Road and Whinfield Road.

The authority has recently outlined its commitment to improving safety on all the major routes leading into Darlington town centre.

A council spokesman said: "This work is for the benefit of pedestrians and all road users. We are looking at Haughton Road, Yarm Road, North Road and all other major roads."