WORK on widening Old Mill Lane as part of a scheme to reduce congestion on one of the main routes in and out of the town centre is progressing well - with all five lanes set to open next summer.

The proposals, which were revealed in January 2022, include the widening of the highway to include four lanes and a separate bus lane - five in total.

Work has been taking place at the site since last April, with the three lanes being cut down to two for ten weeks of the scheme.

But traffic is now moving well, with the three lanes reinstated albeit they are more narrow.

Large fences have been placed on the outskirts of the site to protect those working there - meaning many residents have not seen the sheer size and extent of the work that has been ongoing for the past 14 months.

The Chronicle were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the site on Wednesday, and bosses behind the scheme said that work is progressing well - with an end date set for the summer of 2026.

Tom Howard, the director of transport development and capital delivery at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority - the organisation funding the work - told the Chronicle: “It’s a £15m project funded through that Transforming Cites programme.

“What we’re doing is providing additional capacity for bus infrastructure while maintaining cycling and pedestrian access over the bridge.

“We also want to maintain the capacity for vehicles as well.

“We’re progressing well.

“For substantial parts of the new bridge the infrastructure is there.

“We have a fair way to go but we’re planning to be complete over the summer of 2026.

“We’re doing the work without having a significant disruption to the road network.

“That in itself dictates how long it’s going to take.”

Darren Brelsford, works manager at Balfour Beatty, is happy with the progress that is being made.

He said: “The main part of the bridge is built.

“We’ve already started on the drainage so it’s a matter of connecting everything at the moment.

“People that go by will see what it is that we’ve done in the near future.”

There has been minimal disruption to the road network during the construction phase, mainly due to the fact that any road closures are done overnight, mainly on Sundays.

One of those closures is imminent, as from 5pm on Sunday, June 29 to 5am the following morning the road will be closed.

“The hours that have been worked to get us to where we are have been phenomenal,” Darren added.

“We appreciate all the help we’ve been getting.

“It’s a team effort from everybody.

“It’s not easy to shut a road that’s as busy as this.

“Predominately we’ve had to do that on Sunday nights.

“That disrupts our work week but our aim is to keep the traffic flowing.”