A £2.8m ROAD improvement scheme aimed at improving safety on a busy dual carriageway has been announced.

The project at the A56 Accrington bypass will include a new quieter road surface, which will also reduce spray from passing vehicles, and a state-of-the-art lighting system.

It involves a one-and-half mile section of road between the M65 and the Huncoat and Hapton turn off and will take four months to complete.

The Highways Agency will also use the opportunity to carry out upgrading of safety barriers and fencing.

The first phase, to resurface a half-mile section of the A56 south of the A679 Burnley Road, will take place from Monday, March 3, for three weeks.

This work will be carried out between 10pm and 5am and will mean the closure of the northbound A56 during these times, with traffic diverted via Accrington town centre.

More extensive work on an additional one-mile section of the road close to the M65 at Junction 8 will take place at the end of March, with dates to be confirmed nearer the time.

Highways Agency project manager John Mather said: "This is a major scheme that will really improve safety, driving conditions and visibi-lity for drivers on the A56.

"We are investing heavily in improving this section of the road. The existing road surface is now well worn and we have taken the opportunity to improve the lighting and safety fencing at the same time.

"All the work has been carefully planned to cause the minimum amount of disruption to drivers."

He said the new road surface was now being used on all new projects in the area and had been for the last 18-month period.

The road will be surfaced using materials which lower the noise emitted, which is aimed to benefit nearby residents and road users.

The new lighting system aims to light the street in a very bright way, making vehicles and pedestrians more visible as they are silhouetted against the road.

The lamps are also designed to point more light at the street.