TWO major road safety improvement schemes will start in Hereford later this month.

Both involve the city's main traffic route, the A49.

In Holmer Road the Highways Agency plans to install a pelican crossing outside Holmer School, to extend the 30mph speed restriction to Holmer roundabout and to improve road markings.

While work takes place traffic will be restricted to 10mph on a 130 metre stretch of Holmer Road when 'convoy' working signs are displayed.

The second scheme will see the installation of signals to control traffic at the junction of St Martin's Street with the A49 at the end of the Greyfriars Bridge near Belmont roundabout.

This is designed to give easier access in and out of St Martin's Street through the main stream of traffic.

A pedestrian phase will be included in the lights to help people cross the A49 safely.

The St Martin's Street signals are a preliminary to a proposed major traffic control scheme for Belmont roundabout. The scheme can not be introduced until a planning decision has been made on an application to build an ASDA store and more than 100 houses on adjacent land at Causeway Farm.

This, in turn, will be dependent on agreement over a flood alleviation scheme for the area.

A spokesperson said the work on the projects in Holmer Road and St Martin's Street could start on January 21 or 28.