HALTON motorists are warned of months of traffic delays as a new phase of roadworks has just started on the A558 Daresbury Expressway.

The Innovation Way junction is being converted from a roundabout to traffic light control.

Three-way temporary traffic lights are currently controlling traffic through the junction and it is likely that these will be in place until the work is completed in December.

A spokesman for Halton Council said: “We appreciate that these road works are causing delays and disruption to journeys in the area.

“Unfortunately, given the scale and nature of the work, and the associated temporary traffic management required to ensure the safety of the workforce and the travelling public, traffic delays are inevitable. We advise motorists to find suitable alternative routes if they can.”

Work is underway to extend the existing embankment so that the carriageway can be widened to four lanes on the approaches to the junction.

Preliminary work was carried out earlier this month to remove the existing roundabout, to allow site access down to the working area for heavy plant and vehicles.

"Due to the nature of the work it is not possible to carry out night-time work at the moment."

This is one of three road improvement schemes in Halton being funded through the Department for Transport’s Local Pinch Point Programme, with the aim of increasing traffic capacity to promote growth and development in the East Runcorn area.

The work is being carried out by Lafarge Tarmac, the council’s highway works contractor.