A MAJOR road will be closed to through traffic from July 19 to October 10 while £250,000 brook improvements are carried out.

Sewer overflow improvements will be carried out by United Utilities' contractor KMI Water Ltd in Wigan Road, Leigh, at its junction with Norbury Street.

The overflow acts as a safety valve helping prevent flooding by providing an outlet for excess water that drains off roofs and roadways during heavy rainfall.

The Wigan Road overflow chamber for Westleigh Brook will be upgrading with fine screens to sieve rubbish and sewage related litter so it no longer gets deposited in the watercourse.

Project manager Steven Wong said: "We have investigated every alternative but the work has to be carried out here at the overflow point. Due to the scale of work the road will have to close."

Wigan Road will be closed between Norbury Street and Siddeley Street for 12 weeks and traffic diverted along Westleigh Lane, Dangerous Corner, the A557 and Leigh Road via the Bethel junction at Hindley Green.

Norbury Street will be closed at its junction with Wigan Road and access will be via Scott Street and Lowood Street. Siddeley Street will remain open as will businesses in Wigan Road.

Mr Wong said: "We will do our utmost to complete it and reopen the road as quickly as possible."