WORK to build a pedestrian crossing across New Park Street in Devizes is likely to last two months, Wiltshire County Council has said.

The new crossing will allow pedestrians to cross the increasingly busy street between Snuff Street and Couch Lane more safely. The pavement will be built out slightly on each side of the road and a new refuge is to be constructed in the middle.

To make the crossing even safer, traffic will not be allowed to turn right out of Snuff Street and Couch Lane will become one way for half its length, so vehicles cannot enter New Park Street from there.

Work is due to begin next Monday, July 15, when Couch Lane becomes one way between its junction with New Park Street and the Black Swan Garage half-way up. It is likely to last until September at the earliest.

A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said the new zebra crossing is designed to improve the pedestrian access between the Market Place and the Wharf and, incidentally, to cut down the amount of traffic using Snuff Street and Couch Lane. A total of £40,000 has been budgeted for the work, including legal costs of the traffic orders.

The spokesman added that if the work causes too much disruption to the flow of traffic, it will be restricted to periods outside peak times.