Plans to shut a busy Wigan road for four weeks have been cancelled - but closures could still be needed
Plans to close a busy Wigan road for four weeks so work could be carried out at a railway station have been axed.
Wigan Today reported Hall Lane, in Hindley, would be shut from Monday, March 30 to Friday, April 24, after a notice was published by Wigan Council on the Public Notice Portal.
The closure was planned to allow for improvement work at Hindley railway station, which includes providing step-free access to and from the platforms for the first time.
But there were concerns from residents, who said they had been told by Network Rail that the road closures would only be needed at weekends.
They feared traffic chaos and long detours if Hall Lane was shut permanently for the whole four weeks.
After being contacted by Wigan Today, a spokesman for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said the scheduled road closure had been cancelled.
They said: “Discussions are ongoing about when this work will take place and if a road closure on Hall Lane is needed.
"Some other road closures may be required to install the new lifts as part of the Hindley station accessibility works. Details will be confirmed once works are also confirmed.”
The £6.5m upgrade of Hindley station will see TfGM install two passenger lifts, providing step-free access to and from the platforms.
A new footbridge is also being built from the booking hall at street level for direct access to platforms one and two.
TfGM, Network Rail and Northern Trains will upgrade lighting and CCTV at the lifts and assistance areas.
There are also plans for improved park-and-ride facilities with more than 40 additional parking spaces, a new bus lay-by and a pick-up/drop off area.
Improved pedestrian access between the hub and railway station will be provided underneath Ladies Lane bridge, alongside new help points, lighting and CCTV.
When the scheme was announced in January, TfGM said the majority of the construction work was planned to take place on weekdays, between 7am and 6pm, and some road closures may be required to install the lifts.
The station was expected to remain open throughout the work, with no impact on train services.