WORK to end the traffic jam ‘nightmare’ at the M65 roundabout, between Guide and Belthorn, will take place next year boosting Blackburn with Darwen’s housing and industrial development plans.

The Highways Agency, supported by the borough and Lancashire County Councils, has secured £1.4million to install traffic lights at the heavily- congested junction.

The measures, starting next summer and to be completed three months later, have been welcomed by Hyndburn Labour leader Miles Parkinson, and opposition boss Peter Britcliffe, as good news for Belthorn villagers hit by morning rush-hour tailbacks.

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration chief Maureen Bateson said the new signals would ease congestion, and boost the expansion of nearby business parks and housing plans in the borough.

She said they would help deliver 1,980 jobs, and 3,495 homes by 2020, through improving the key link to developments in the borough – both new, and schemes with planning permission. Employment sites include land at Shadsworth and Haslingden Road, Chapels Park in Darwen, Hollins Goods Yard, and the town centre Cathedral Quarter scheme.

Housing sites include land off Haslingden Road, Clarendon Road East, the Blackburn Royal Infirmary site, the bus depot off Whitebirk Drive, land to the east of Darwen, off Shelly Road, and Fishmoor Drive.

The Highways Agency will invest in full-time traffic lights at the Junction 5 roundabout on the M65 at Shadsworth.

The lights will operate at all times to ease traffic, particularly during the rush hours.

Coun Bateson said: “This is an important gateway to the town and the Royal Blackburn Hospital. It is also a main public transport route and is a key employment area, so it is important that the road network can cope with the levels of traffic. This is one of the busiest junctions in the borough and the new traffic lights will help control the flow of cars.”

It builds on part-time traffic lights on two roads leading to the roundabout, and road-widening between Junction 5 and the Beehive roundabout.

Queues have seen miles of traffic backed up the Grane Road.

Coun Parkinson said: “This is welcome news for the villagers of Belthorn and Hyndburn residents who commute to Blackburn.”

Coun Britcliffe said: “This is good news, but I would like to see the changes implemented as soon as possible.”