A MAJOR road scheme is being carried out on a busy road junction for 11 weeks this summer.

Work is starting tomorrow at the crossroads between the A690 and A167 in Neville’s Cross, in Durham.

Durham County Council will be upgrading traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, realigning traffic islands, carrying out road reconstruction and resurfacing the road.

Adrian White, the council’s head of transport and contract services, said: “This is obviously a very busy junction in Durham City and it is important that we have a modern traffic light system and improved road conditions for the sheer numbers of motorists who use it.”

The work is scheduled to take place in phases over 11 weeks, with later phases to include overnight road closures and diversions.

Temporary lights will be in place while the traffic lights are being replaced and there will be diversions while the reconstruction and resurfacing is being carried out.

The cross roads are used by around 37,000 vehicles a day.

The council says work is essential as the existing lights are 25 years old and need to be replaced while the roads are in need of resurfacing due to the volume of traffic using them.

Mr White added: “There will be some delays while the traffic lights are being upgraded so we are asking people to allow extra time for their journeys and to consider using alternative routes where possible, particularly at peak times.

“There will also be some disruption for residents and businesses in the vicinity of the resurfacing and reconstruction works, in terms of access to property and noise, for which we apologise in advance.

“However, the work has been planned to minimise disruption as far as is possible and we aim to have it finished as soon as we can.”

There will be a lane closure on the A167 southbound from tomorrow between 9.30am and 3.30pm each day.

From July 10 there will be a series of lane closures at the junction, with four way temporary traffic lights in operation during 7am and 11pm.

Carriageway reconstruction and resurfacing is expected to start on Saturday, August 12.

Overnight closures will take place on Neville’s Cross Bank between 8pm and 6am during phases one and two while there will be a closure on Crossgate Peth in phase three.

No work will take place on Saturday, July 8, to allow the Durham Miners’ Gala to go ahead unaffected.