SEQUENCING of lights at busy main road junctions in Greenock town centre are to be upgraded to help traffic flow more freely.

Scotland Transerv are introducing new linked technology through GPS to improve the flow and detection at the signals at Brymner Street, Cathcart Street, Virginia Street and Dellingburn Street.

A further upgrade will be also carried out further along the A8, at Bogston on Port Glasgow Road.

This involves installation of a virtual traffic loop which will 'improve queue monitoring and efficiency' of the signals.

It comes after local MSP Stuart McMillan and his SNP colleague Councillor Christopher Curley had raised the issues with Transport Scotland.

Councillor Curley said: “The trunk road network is critical to the economy of Inverclyde with 35,000 vehicles being carried on the A8 and 20,000 being carried on the A78 each day.

"We are all aware of the delays that occur on these roads.

“It is great to see these works being undertaken which should have an immediate positive impact on journey times along the A8.

"I commend Transport Scotland officers for the progress made to date.

"We will continue to make the case for further improvements.”

MSP Mr McMillan added: “The upgrades to the A8 traffic lights I hope will be a massive improvement.

“Over the rest of this year we are going to see many other improvements including numerous resurfacing projects, drainage investigation works and road markings renewal at roundabouts on the A8.

“As an area, we also need to be aware of the upcoming Scottish Transport Project Review 2 and need to make the strongest case possible to Transport Scotland to ensure a project to improve our roads is included."