MOTORISTS face five months of Traffic chaos when bridge safety work starts in Hindley on Monday (July 12).

And Wigan Metro is urging drivers to find a different route during the strengthening operation.

The stone arch, which carries the busy A58 Bridge Street over Borsdane Brook, has been extended on both sides by iron beams, concrete and stone slabs, but these widenings, which carry footpaths have proved to be sub-standard and need fortifying, along with the brook's retaining walls.

The work will be phased so that one lane of traffic and two footways will be maintained for crossing the bridge at all times.

Temporary signals will be in operation.

A spokesman for the borough engineer's department said: "Traffic in Hindley is bound to be considerably disrupted by this work, which is unavoidable and is of course a matter of public safety.

"There will be quite enough problems with normal shopping and market day traffic without the complications of additional through traffic.

"We appeal to motorists who are planning a journey which would normally take them through Hindley town centre to find a different route round the town for the next few months."

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