MULTI-million pound work to tackle of some of the city’s major congestion hotspots will start in the next year, the council has announced.

Plans by Worcestershire County Council to add signal controls to the much-loathed Croft Road zebra crossing are being finalised and work is due to start before the summer.

The congested crossing near the Hive which has been previously dubbed "Worcester's most hated" sees around 2,000 pedestrians and 200 cyclists cross on an average day and with no signals, drivers often fall victim to long and frequent interruptions in both directions.

The entrance to the Cattlemarket car park would also be reworked as an attempt to cut congestion.

Councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member for highways, said: "It's great news that we will soon be in a position to share more details on these key schemes after a period of closely evaluating the issue and potentials solution available.

"Cutting congestion remains a priority for the council and with the additional funding proposed for the next three years, even more can be done to tackle the hotspots around the county.”

The improvements have been made possible because of a successful £3.2 million bid by the council to the Department for Transport.

The fund, which comes from the national productivity investment fund (NPIF), is handed out to council’s to tackle congestion points and boost productivity on local roads.

Work would also be carried out at the Sidbury and City Walls Road junctions by installing new signalling equipment and allow better communication between the two parts of the city.

The council also plans to improve road widths, pavements and crossings in St John’s with designs expected to be released in the autumn.

The council said money from previous budgets has already been used for measures to reduce congestion and improve signals around the city.

Signals have been improved at Shrub Hill and Midland Road junctions as well as Sebright Avenue and London Road and the signals outside Waitrose in London Road.

The improvements included installing new technology to ensure more time is given to the priority flow of traffic.

The council said the crossing at North Quay as well as junctions in Dolday and The Butts are next on its list of improvements.