A bus gate is set to be installed in an East Lancs town centre as a part of a major overhaul of its gyratory system.

The measure has been designed to help make journeys faster and more reliable for bus passengers in Rawtenstall.

The new arrangement will allow buses to turn right from Bacup Road onto St. Mary’s Way, a manoeuvre not currently permitted by any vehicles.

It is understood Lancashire County Council has yet to decide whether the new rule will be enforced in the way it is elsewhere in the county – with CCTV cameras capturing those flouting the regulation and fixed penalty notices being issued to drivers.   An exact date for the introduction of the revised layout has not yet been released.

Work on the wider project is taking place in phases through to next spring and includes the gyratory’s pedestrian subway being taken out of use.

The scheme aims to alleviate congestion and improve traffic flow, safety and accessibility by modernising the infrastructure in the area.

A County Hall spokesman said: “As part of Rossendale Council’s Levelling Up Fund improvement to the Rawtenstall Gyratory, (we are) contributing funding from the Bus Service Improvement Plan for the provision of a bus-only right turn from Bacup Road into St Mary’s Way.

“This will help to reduce journey times and improve the reliability of a number of bus routes including the X43 Witch Way as the bus will no longer have to complete a circuit of the gyratory when heading north from Rawtenstall Bus Station.

“The funding will also contribute towards the installation of intelligent bus priority equipment on the new traffic signals.

"These allow buses to communicate with the traffic signals, meaning that they can be held on green if a bus is approaching or reduce the wait time on red if a bus is running late.”

Other aspects of the overall scheme include changes to the Tup Bridge junction on Burnley Road, with upgraded crossings and footways.

Early next year, new traffic light technology will be installed at the Asda junction, while the Bacup Road junction will see a series of major upgrades, which could result in road closures in the spring.

The total package will cost more than £20m, £17.9m of which came from the last government’s Levelling Up Fund, along with £1.5m from Lancashire County Council and £1.8m contributed by Rossendale Council.