A local authority has awarded the contract for a £1.3 million highway upgrade at a long-standing traffic bottleneck linked to a major new housing estate.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has chosen the Rochdale-based Casey Group to undertake the Holden Fold / Knowle Lane /Moor Lane junction improvements.

They form the next stage of the Darwen East Development Corridor improvement scheme, which aims to aid traffic flow.

The work will include a reconfigured road layout at the existing Knowle Lane / Moor Lane junction, with new residents parking areas in Knowle Lane and off Moor Lane.

Earlier this year the council approved a planning application for the scheme.

It will also improve the road layout along Chapels and Goose House Lane and incorporate improvements to drainage, street lighting and road markings, plus a new pavement along Moor Lane.

The work is scheduled to take six months, and is linked to the Vistry Partnerships project to construct 477 homes on 45 acres of land off Holden Fold previously occupied by Darwen Moorland High School.

A planning application for that project is now being considered by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Five contractors were invited to bid for the contract with three being assessed in detail before The Casey Group was chosen.

A report from the borough's operations director, Martin Eden, said: "The project will deliver the construction of the proposed roundabout arrangement at the junction of Moor Lane, Holden Fold and Knowle Lane together with associated works on Chapels and Goose House Lane.

"This includes the construction of two car parks for use by the local residents on Knowle Lane.

"The infrastructure works proposed form the next stage of the DEDC (Darwen East Development Corridor) improvement scheme.

"The planning application for this has already been approved, therefore key risks have been mitigated. The land in question is within the adopted highway/council owned land.

"Positive consultations have been carried out with key stakeholders, members and residents affected.

"The junction forms part of the DEDC Strategic Route. The works therefore are required to improve the highway network."

Mr Eden said funding for the scheme had already been earmarked in the council's highways programme and Section 106 contributions from developers agreed in the planning process to approve housing estates in Darwen.

The route from Moor Lane to Knowle Lane and onto Goose House Lane is used by commuters to travel to and from the M65 Junction 4.

The agreed layout allows for the later introduction of a mini-roundabout at the junction of Moor Lane and Knowle Lane.