A busy town centre roundabout in the Lake District is to benefit from an £830,000 Highways Agency scheme to reduce congestion.

Tank Square roundabout forms part of the A590 through Ulverston and an extra lane on the roundabout is being delivered in the scheme. Other improvements include widening the approach lanes on both sides of the roundabout between Queen Street and Quebec Street, carriageway and pavement resurfacing and improvements to the street lighting and traffic signals of this section of the A590.

The three month project will start on Monday, September 14, and is due to finish before Sunday, December 13.

A small public exhibition will run in the foyer at the town’s Coronation Hall from Tuesday (September 1) until Friday, September 11, during usual office hours. Highways Agency staff will also be on hand to talk to local people viewing the display between 4pm and 6pm on Tuesday and again on Monday, September 7.

To keep local people up to date a regular newsletter is being produced alongside a webpage at www.highways.gov.uk/Ulverston.

work on the improvements will take place off-peak between 9.30am and 4.30pm in the day and 8pm and 6am overnight when some temporary side road closures will need to take place with local diversions in place.

Traffic management arrangements include single lane closures during daytime working with greater restrictions overnight involving control by traffic lights or a contraflow operation.

Highways Agency Project Sponsor James Theobalds said: “During these works there will inevitably be some inconvenience to drivers outside peak hours but we are working hard with our contractors to keep disruption to a minimum as well keeping people informed. “When completed though this scheme will allow traffic along the A590 to use two lanes on the approach to and around the roundabout - significantly helping to improve the flow of traffic through the town and reducing congestion. We know this is something which will be welcomed by people in the area including pedestrians who will also be benefiting from better footways and lighting.”

The part of the scheme to improve the A590 around the Queen Street junction is being funded with around £250,000 from the Government’s Fiscal Stimulus package.