ROAD improvements in Southampton costing £166,000 are expected to get the official go-ahead this week.

Among the projects is a toucan crossing in Canute Road.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, partially- sighted Geoff Lynch started a petition calling for safety measures and warned that someone could be killed trying to cross the busy road.

The projects, which also include work around Northam Estate and Queensway, will be considered by the city council's Environment and Transport Scrutiny Panel on Thursday and should be completed later this year.

Mr Lynch, who suffered a stroke last year, hit out at the length of time it has taken to provide a crossing in Canute Road, where dozens of new flats have added to the traffic in the area.

"I know many people who are disabled and find it hard to get across the road," said Mr Lynch, of Pacific Close.

"I and other people have to wait for up to an hour to get across it."

About £25,000 will be spent on building the toucan crossing if councillors give the roads improvement scheme the go-ahead.

Other works that will go before the panel for approval are: * Dropped kerb crossing costing £40,000 and other improvement works in Shirley, Lordshill and Millbrook to help disabled people.

£16,000 to improve paving around Millbank House on Northam Estate and surround the car park in Graham Street.

£30,000 improvements in Butts Road, Yeovil Chase, Calderwood Drive, Wyndham Court, Wessex Lane, Cannon Street and Rothbury Close and Albert Road North.

£12,000 on new footways in Queensway.