WORK to convert a junction on the A590 into a roundabout could start next year, highways bosses have revealed.

Plans to replace the staggered junction at Cross-a-Moor, near Swarthmoor, with a roundabout first surfaced back in 2015.

Campaigners argued a roundabout would make the junction safer and reduce the number of collisions.

In December 2017 Highways England confirmed funding for the £5m multi-agency project had been approved and construction could now start next year.

A spokesman for Highways England said: “Subject to the usual caveats, construction may get under way before the end of next year.

“The idea is to replace two staggered give way junctions with a roundabout which will enable safe access to a number of proposed housing developments in the area.”

The new roundabout is required to support the delivery of more than 1,000 new homes at the south of Ulverston.

Highways England is providing £3m for the project while £1.7m will come from housing developer contributions and £300,000 from South Lakeland District Council (SLDC).

Councillor Mark Wilson, who serves on Cumbria County Council and SLDC, was among those who successfully campaigned for traffic lights at Swarthmoor back in the 1990s.

“I’m very much in favour of this roundabout and it’s really pleasing to see Highways England has taken into account feedback from residents,” he said.

“They are remodelling the plans based on a consultation and it looks really good and it’s really positive to see they’ve considered pedestrians and cyclists in coming up with the plan as well as things like air quality.

“This is the first step and hopefully we should be able to announce more details in January or February.”

The project is being funded through Highways England’s ‘The Road to Growth’ strategic economic growth plan which received national recognition from the Institute of Economic Development for having the ‘greatest economic impact’.