The starting gun has been fired for a £30 million drive to tackle congestion at one of the key gateway junctions into Blackburn and Darwen.

Planners have given the final sign-off for the 16-month project at the M65's Junction 5, near Guide.

The overhaul bid is part of the £30 million Blackburn Growth Axis Transport (South East) scheme.

In June Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board appointed Balfour Beatty as the project's main contractor.

Now the authority's planners have granted the lawful development certificate necessary for the works to go ahead.

The junction's southbound exit slip will be widened from two lanes to three, and the entry slips in each direction will also be widened to allow for segregated left turn lanes for traffic entering the motorway.

The Grane Road and A6077 Haslingden Road, on either side of the junction, will be widened to allow for similar left turn lanes for northbound and southbound M65 traffic.

The roundabout would be expanded from two lanes to three with 'intelligent' traffic signals.

The project also includes improvements to local cycling and walking routes.

A report recommending approval of the certificate by planning officer Nick Blackledge says: "To enable the capacity improvements to the M65 Junction 5 Gyratory, additional approach lanes are to be provided to the A6077 and B6232.

"In addition, the east-bound off slip from the M65 is to be widened to three lanes.

"Further capacity enhancements are proposed around the gyratory to provide an additional lane by moving kerb lines to achieve the necessary width.

"Three lanes will be marked out on the bridge deck although, due to the design and their form of construction, it is not possible to move the kerb lines to provide the standard width lanes without having to fully close and resurface the affected areas.

"New surfacing will be constructed using asphalt. Any new barriers will be constructed from steel.

"The construction programme is currently envisaged as approximately 16 months.

"The development will employ up to 15 construction workers at a time.

"The main activities which will take place are traffic management, site clearance, erection of fencing, drainage, earthworks, pavement, erection of traffic signals and street lighting, and landscaping."

Cllr Quesir Mahmood, Blackburn with Darwen Council's Growth boss, said: “Residents tell us that improving our roads and the way they get around our borough is incredibly important to them and so this is a scheme we’re really pleased to be able to bring forward.

 

“As part of more than £125m of new investment that we have successfully secured in recent years for our borough, we were awarded £20m for improvements in transport in South East Blackburn – in and around Junction 5 of the M65 and wider.

 

“Of course, we want to make the most of every single penny of that for our residents and businesses and have been working on detailed plans for the two different projects – the widening of Junction 5 of the M65 and in what is known as active travel routes, pretty much anything that doesn’t involve getting around in a car.

 

“Of course, this investment is part of a much bigger picture for the borough and our highways. Blackburn with Darwen is also set to benefit from major new investment through the new Local Transport Fund, with a focus on things we know matter – including filling potholes, better street lighting, tackling congestion, improving our streets and more.”

The council secured £20m from the government's Levelling Up Fund in January to address transport issues in an area serving the Royal Blackburn Hospital, the EG Group's headquarters, Evolution Park and Shadsworth Industrial Estate, and new housing.

The project aims to improve walking and cycling routes in the area by building on the existing Weavers Wheel cycle network and involves the Leeds Liverpool Canal towpath, already part of the National Cycle Network.

Routes such as Blackburn town centre to both Guide via Haslingden Road and Walker Park via Queens Park, will benefit, alongside pathways linking the Royal Blackburn Hospital with West Blackburn, the Leeds Liverpool Canal and Hollins Bank.

The link from Haslingden Road to the Weavers Wheel via the Arran Trail is also included.