MOTORISTS in the town will benefit from a multi-million pound investment to ease congestion which is set to be completed within the next week.

Improvements worth more than £5.75 million, as part of the Government's £317 million pinch point programme, to give better information to drivers across the north west are being carried out by the Highways Agency.

Extended CCTV coverage of the region's motorways and new electronic variable message signs are to be delivered to give traffic officers and partner organisations, including the police, more information on incidents.

Funding totalling £129,000 has been allocated for two new CCTV cameras at junction 11 of the M56 at Daresbury, while £148,000 is being used for two extra CCTV cameras to plug gaps in coverage at Thelwall viaduct.

Four new electronic signs and CCTV cameras worth £1.4 million will also be installed at Stoak Interchange on the Merseyside and Cheshire border where the M56 meets the M53.

"These new electronic signs will give better information to drivers when there is congestion and incidents," said Philip Tyrrell, project manager.

"The extended CCTV coverage will ensure we have better intelligence and allow our traffic officers and partners to provide an even more effective response to incidents and congestion – boosting safety and journey times."

Work started at the end of last year and is due to be completed by March 31.