A MEETING is being held to discuss the traffic disruption being caused by work to build the guided busway.

Representatives from Wigan Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will meet on Monday to discuss the congestion which has been caused by several road closures and diversions in Leigh, Tyldesley and Astley.

The meeting has been called by Leigh MP Andy Burnham and several borough councillors after they recieved complaints from residents who have also written to the Journal and taken to social media to vent their frustration at the continuing traffic delays.

A Facebook page called ‘Enough is Enough. Stop the Traffic Chaos in our area’ was set up a week ago and has already received hundreds of comments and posts.

Mr Burnham said: “I have received a considerable number of complaints from constituents.

"Road users appreciate the work has to be completed and that some delay is to be expected but the current situation is unacceptable and I will be making this point at the meeting and calling on all parties to take the necessary steps to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.

“Ultimately I remain of the view the busway will bring significant benefits to this area and that by working smarter during this difficult period the completed busway will bring long-term benefits to the area.”

Wigan Council has been working with Salford Council to improve traffic flow around the Mosley Common/Boothstown junction on the East Lancs Road where busway work is also affected traffic.

They have put in a right turning lane to ensure vehicles turning right do not stop vehicles turning left towards Manchester and ahead to Boothstown.

There will also be new parking restrictions introduced on Sale Lane in Tyldesley to help traffic flow smoothly towards the town centre.

Leader of Wigan Council, Lord Peter Smith, said: “It’s been a difficult few weeks for drivers in the east of the borough and I’d like to apologise to anyone affected by recent problems.

"Wigan Council and TfGM monitor traffic flow in the area daily and are concerned at the level of disruption. They are working with construction contractor Balfour Beatty to cut congestion.

“We are opposing any further road closures in the area while busway work takes place – except in emergency situations - and we’re closely monitoring the contractor’s activities to ensure they are working efficiently and not creating unnecessary issues.

“We are also going to introduce new traffic measures that we hope will alleviate some of the problems.”

TfGM and contractor Balfour Beatty are taking steps to shorten the disruption by continuing to work at weekends and into the evenings.

Peter Boulton, head of programme management for TfGM, said: “We’re doing our best to work with partners and deliver the busway whilst trying to minimise the impact on local people as much as possible.

“Unfortunately with a major construction project like this, there will be some disruption.

“I thank residents for bearing with us and assure them that we are actively listening to their concerns and working to resolve issues where we can.”

  • Do you think the meeting will change anything? Email newsdesk@leighjournal.co.uk or visit facebook.com/leighjournal to join thr debate.