A ROAD through a village blighted by heavy traffic is being coated in a special surface in a £170,000 scheme designed to reduce noise.

The Highways Agency have begun work on coating the A59 Longsight Road between Ribchester Road and Park Gate Inn, Copster Green, in the 'low noise' surface.

Highways Agency project manager Roy Wood said the effect on noise reduction would be equivalent to halving the flow of traffic through Copster Green.

He went on: "This is a significant boost to the rural environment of Copster Green.

"An additional benefit of this new material is that the spray from the tyres in wet conditions will be a lot less, which helps to reduce driver stress and increase safety."

The new surface is being laid as part of the agency's policy of maintaining the road network and reducing the effect of traffic noise on the environment. Work should be completed by the beginning of April.

To minimise traffic congestion on the road, the work will be carried out outside peak hours between 9am and 4pm and temporary traffic lights will operate to allow motorists to continue to travel in both directions on the carriageway.

Mr Wood went on: "Delays to motorists are inevitable but this is essential work. Motorists are advised to allow more time for their journeys and take extra care when travelling through the work."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.