Individuals planning journeys in the north-west in the new year should be aware of potential delays when travelling in the vicinity of Chester.

The Highways Agency has announced the A55/A483 roundabout that forms an important link between the town and the rest of the region will undergo important improvements from January 5th that are scheduled to take approximately three months to complete.

It is the third and final phase of development for the junction and will see the installation of new traffic signals to better manage traffic flows in the area, as well as widening of several key areas of the roundabout and its adjoining approaches.

Project manager at the Highways Agency Mark Mosley said: "This is major project to tackle congestion and improve journey times on the route between Chester and Wales, and will see significant improvements to the A55 and A483.

"The final stage of the project requires some lane closures at the roundabout linking the two roads so we are expecting some disruption while this work takes place. We're therefore encouraging drivers to allow extra time, or to find alternative routes if possible.

"Road users should see a significant improvement to their journeys when the project is completed."

The £5.3 million project to deliver improvements to the A55/A483 roundabout forms part of the government's multi-million pound Pinch Point Programme and aims to provide a welcome boost to the local economy in the coming years.

In particular, the project will improve access to Chester Business Park and is expected to help generate further investment that could potentially lead to the creation of more than 11,500 jobs and 1,700 homes in the area by the end of the decade.

In total, 28 Pinch Point Programme projects are being carried out in the north-west right now, with a combined value of £66 million.

It is hoped that each of these schemes will deliver a significant boost to their local economy, ensuring the government's ongoing investment in transport network improvements translates into real financial gains for the nation as a whole in the years ahead.

Anyone planning journeys in the vicinity of the A55/A483 roundabout are advised a temporary 50 mph speed limit is to be enforced from the start of next month, as work will be taking place to install traffic lights at the junction linking the A483 to the B5445 Wrexham Road, replacing the current mini roundabout.

In addition, a separate £129,000 scheme has also now been completed to provide CCTV cameras at the roundabout, with the aim of improving traffic flows in the future, as well as ensuring emergency services and recovery vehicles can be more swiftly dispatched to the area in an emergency situation.