Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced a £250,000 scheme to upgrade a busy town centre junction in Newtownards.

The improvement scheme, at South Street/Court Street, has been identified under the Department's Collision Remedial programme where a number of personal injury collisions, involving right turning vehicles, have been recorded at this location.

The works are planned to start during the 2014/15 financial year and will take approximately six to eight weeks to complete.

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The Minister said: "My Department remains committed to playing its part in reducing collisions on the road network as part of the Northern Ireland Roads Safety Strategy."

The scheme will provide additional road width to facilitate a dedicated right turn lane on South Street on the approach to the junction. Minor alterations to an adjoining DRD car park will be necessary to allow carriageway widening in both South Street and Court Street where pedestrian access to the car park will also be improved.

Improvements to existing signals technology, including the introduction of new 'PUFFIN' controlled crossings, will also be delivered thereby improving the efficiency of the junction for both motorists and pedestrians.

(CD/JP)