THE man in charge of regenerating Blackburn got out his spade to mark the start of work on the final link of Blackburn's Orbital Route.

Coun Andy Kay officially launched the start of work on the Barbara Castle Way extension which will link the road to Montague Street.

The contract was recently awarded to Cumbrian Industrials Civil Engineering Ltd and work will begin next Tuesday and last for a year.

The £2.5million pound project has so far involved the demolition of the 'Aspden Buildings' on Preston New Road, together with major public utilities diversions.

The route crosses several car parks, and some delays are expected when new junctions are created on to Barbara Castle Way and Montague Street.

As well as reducing unnecessary traffic in the town centre by making it easier and quicker to bypass, the new road will open up significant areas of vacant land, providing opportunities for frontage sites and mixed-use developments in this currently under-utilised area.

Coupled with a new traffic light management system currently being installed on the Orbital Route, the scheme will reduce accidents, improve air quality and provide better access to the town centre.

Funding for the scheme was awarded through the Local Transport Plan.