CALLS have been made to end traffic misery at one of Bolton's "nightmare" junctions.

Motorists face long delays negotiating Blackburn Road in Astley Bridge, especially at rush hour.

The problem is particularly bad for drivers trying to leave the Asda store and at the Blackburn Road/Moss Bank Way junction which often becomes blocked with drivers waiting to turn.

Councillors are calling on Transport for Greater Manchester to tackle the issues in Blackburn Road and have come up with some radical proposals.

Ideas include changing the layout of some of the busiest junctions, including where Blackburn Road meets Moss Bank Way and Crompton Way, and Blackburn Road junction with Belmont Road, changing the phasing of the traffic lights and even sending traffic down Waters Meeting Road.

It is hoped this would ease traffic and reduce journey times.

Residents raised concerns about the increasingly severe traffic at Astley Bridge Area Forum last week.

Responding at the meeting, Cllr John Walsh, said: "This is one of the most polluted junctions (Asda junction) in Greater Manchester and something will have to be done in the near future.

"It is a real problem. We have got a series of lights that are not properly configured and phased.

"We are trying to pressure Transport for Greater Manchester to get some plans."

Motorists queuing in traffic often end up blocking the busy junctions as they try and get through meaning when lights chance in other directions it is all held up.

Suggestions from Astley Bridge Cllr Paul Wild include a separate lane for traffic turning left from Moss Bank Way up Blackburn Road towards Sharples and making it so traffic can turn right from both Crompton Way and Moss Bank Way at the same time.

A more radical solution to try and ease the congestion was to send traffic down Waters Meeting Road.

Cllr Walsh said: "It is easy enough to see how you can take some of the traffic off Blackburn Road and on to Waters Meeting Road.

"Use the stretch of Blackburn Road from Tramways to Relphs Funeralcare as local traffic only. That would take some of the traffic off Blackburn Road itself."

Concerns were also raised about how the situation could get worse if more housing was built in the area.

Cllr Wild labelled getting off the Asda car park after 4pm an "absolute nightmare" as people are left queuing just to get off the car park every day.

Cllr David Chadwick, Bolton Council's cabinet member for highways, said: "It is becoming increasingly a very, very busy road.

"It is a thoroughfare to many of the outlying districts. I would hope that TfGm is going to look at it.

"Hopefully they can come up with something to improve it.

"We have to try and improve it and alleviate some of the congestion in that area. It is an issue that is steadily getting worse over the years."

A spokesman for TfGM said it is working with Bolton council to see how traffic congestion can be reduced. He said: "We are aware of concerns over the volume of traffic in this area, particularly at peak times, and have introduced a number of measures including the upgrading of traffic signals.

“The technology, known as SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique), is an adaptive traffic control system that can respond and continuously manage changes to traffic flows as and when needed.

“We are also working with Bolton Council to explore a number of additional highways measures to help reduce traffic congestion further.”

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