Works to reduce queueing and congestion along a key road in Bishop Auckland will begin next month.

Durham County Council is to start the first phase of works to improve capacity at key junctions along the A688 corridor across Bishop Auckland.

Carried out in phases, the first improvements will be to the Princes Street roundabout and will begin on Monday 5 August.

The road will be widened from the roundabout northwards towards Tenters Street to allow extra queueing capacity in the left-hand lane.

The works are expected to take 10 weeks and a southbound lane closure will be in place from Tenters Street to Princes Street roundabout, with a diversion set around North Bondgate and Kingsway.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “The A688 is a busy road running through Bishop Auckland and an important route connecting to other areas of the county and beyond.

"We have secured funding to make improvements to key junctions along this stretch of road, improving the resilience of the road network, reducing queueing and congestion, and journey times as a result.

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“Works at each junction will be carried out in stages to minimise disruption to motorists. We would like to thank people for their patience while this work is carried out, and we are sure these improvements will be welcomed by those who use the road once they are complete.”

The council received £539,000 from the government’s Future High Streets Fund for capacity improvements to the junctions at Princes Street, Kingsway, South Church roundabout and Coundongate roundabout.

Improvements to Kingsway, South Church roundabout and Coundongate roundabout will be carried out once designs for each junction are complete.