TRAFFIC LIGHTS at the Bothwell Gardens roundabout in Dunfermline are set to be switched on today (Wednesday) for the first time.

After weeks of "disruptive" roadworks, the signals are to be turned on after the morning traffic peak and will be monitored during the busy afternoon and adjusted where required.

A message from Fife Council also advised: "Please use caution in the area whilst everyone adjusts to the lights being activated. 

"We will closely monitor any impact this has on journey times and address any issues as they arise." 

Traffic lights have been installed on the roundabout, roads have been resurfaced and improvements made at the Elgin Street and Moodie Street junction since the controversial £650,000 project began on June 16. 

It proved so unpopular, with motorists stuck in long queues and businesses suffering as customers avoided the area, that council roads bosses were forced to change the programme and lift the traffic restrictions long before they were due.

Last week the old signals were being removed on the junction between Elgin Street and Moodie Street and new traffic lights installed.

Preparation work continued to enable the lights to be switched on, with the council believing the new system will help control the flow of greater volumes of traffic. 

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Fife Council's service manager for roads and lighting, Mark Dewar, said: "We’re now at the end of these roadworks and we want to thank road users for their patience and cooperation during this time.

“We understand how disruptive these roadworks have been. Through close working with the contractor, we’ve reduced the duration of the works from 16 weeks to 10 weeks.

"These road improvements are necessary to allow new development around the city.  

"The planned growth in Dunfermline, which includes 8,000 new homes, four new primary schools and development of employment land in the coming years, means we need to act now to ensure future traffic can continue to move freely around the city.”

Specialist signal engineers will supervise the signals during peak times to make sure the roundabout flows as expected.