A busy road is to close for 10 weeks as major works get underway.

The St Denys Road and Priory Road junction will be shut to motorists from October 16.

This forms the first phase of Southampton City Council’s project to improve links for people cycling and walking from St Denys into the city centre.

According to the council, the works will make the junction safer for both pedestrians and cyclists by adding new crossing points on all arms of the junction.

This includes pedestrian countdown timers.

From Monday, a new ‘controlled crossing’ will be installed all 4 crossing points.

Currently, the only crossing point is located across the western point of St Denys Road.

The new addition will make it safer for pedestrians accessing the shops and parents using this busy junction walking their children to school.

The traffic light system will be upgraded to modernise the junctions traffic systems, including advanced cycle signals on all arms of the junction.

Bus priority will also be installed at the junction to make bus journeys faster and more reliable.

Phase two will arrive in the new year and will involve the implementation of new segregated cycle lanes implemented along St Denys Road in both directions between Priory Road and Kent and Adelaide Road.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport comments: “This scheme is a clear example of how we have listened to the community to build a scheme they are happy with and would use.

“Some of the businesses had concerns with the initial designs, we listened to their concerns and have incorporated their feedback into the final designs.

“These measures will improve connections into the city centre and address concerns that residents have raised about safety in the area.”

The project is funded by the Department for Transports’ Transforming Cities Fund.