More tweaks made at controversial junction

The junction has become known as an accident black-spot since it was converted from a roundabout to a traffic light-controlled crossroads in a £1.4m redevelopment last year.

Since then drivers have complained about problems with the filter system and there have been several collisions.

The most recent was last Wednesday, when a silver Ford Fiesta and a white Ford Fiesta crashed at the junction of Warrington Road and Highfield Grange Avenue.

A car involved in a collision at the Marus Bridge junction

Winstanley resident Paul Shuttleworth has long been calling for something to be done to make the junction safer.

A new sign and road markings were put in place earlier this year, but he wants more to be done.

And he claims a green filter light was not being used and there were problems when motorists were turning right from Warrington Road to Highfield Grange Avenue.

Mr Shuttleworth said: “Thankfully no-one has been seriously injured, but it is only a matter of time before somebody is killed on that junction as a direct result of this particular flow of traffic and the way it goes.”

Now Wigan Council has spoken to Transport For Greater Manchester about the timing of the lights.

Changes have been made to the right turn from Warrington Road to Highfield Grange Avenue and the filter arrow will turn on when

it detects a vehicle is approaching.

It will be assessed over the next few weeks to see if it is making a difference.

Mark Tilley, the council’s assistant director for infrastructure, said: “Road safety is our number one priority and as with all new schemes we are continuously monitoring and assessing how the junction is working and how drivers are using it.

“The new sign was installed to remind drivers turning right from Warrington Road onto Highfield Grange Avenue to give way to oncoming traffic.

“Road markings have also been put into place to direct traffic into the correct

road positions before turning right.

“The Marus Bridge scheme will bring long-term benefits with better connectivity through one of our main transport routes.”