New sign to boost A590 safety
Work to install a new electronic sign to make the A590 at Levens in Cumbria safer will get underway on Monday (18 January).
Highways England is installing the sign on the approaches to the junction with Foulshaw Lane. It is designed to warn drivers already on the A590 when slow moving vehicles are joining the dual carriageway from Foulshaw Lane and has been commissioned following several incidents in recent years including two fatal collisions.
The sign will be activated automatically as lorries start to join the A590 from Foulshaw Lane and will provide better advance warning to drivers already on the A590 to help reduce collisions and near-miss incidents
Highways England project manager Peter Gee said:
This £160,000 scheme is the result of a safety review of the junction we promised in the last route management strategy.
We have listened to local people’s concerns about safety at the junction and once the sign is installed, drivers will get advance warning of slow vehicles joining the A590 - allowing them to take extra care in approaching the junction.
The work should be completed by Friday, 12 February and involves the closure of lane 1 of the westbound carriageway and a 40mph speed limit for the duration of the work. The eastbound carriageway will also be subject to occasional lane closures.
Overnight closures of the westbound and eastbound carriageway will also be needed next week – with the westbound closed on Monday night and Tuesday night (18 and 19 January), between 8pm and 5am, and with a signed diversion in place. Overnight closures of the eastbound carriageway are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday night (20 and 21 January).
Most of the work will take place between 9.30am and 3.30pm each day.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.