Road could be complete in twelve months

BLACKBURN's long-awaited Orbital Route will be finished in one year, the man in charge of the town's highways has declared.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, made the announcement after revealing work on the final section on Barbara Castle Way was due to start on August 27.

The road is being extended to Montague Street in a £2.5million project and is expected to take a year to complete.

Several car parks will be demolished.

The council has opened replacements further out of town to compensate.

The Orbital Route will then pass through Copy Nook, Higher Eanam, Eanam, Barbara Castle Way, the new extension, along Montague Street, across to Freckleton Street, Canterbury Street, Lower Audley and Higher Audley.

Drivers and shop keepers have all spoken out against the scheme during the two years it has taken so far.

Some have said the route is confusing, while many traders claimed they lost money through a drop of trade during building work.

But Blackburn with Darwen officers insisted the Barbara Castle Way extension was essential if the town centre was to prosper as it would keep through traffic out of the town centre.

Coun Andy Kay said at the Council Forum in Blackburn Town Hall: "I hope people look to the future about the investment the council is making.

"People say they used to be able to get into the town centre two or three minutes.

"I have a fair experience of travelling into town and I have never been able to get in in that time.

"There is a heck of a lot more traffic than in the past.

"The scheme is expected to reduce congestion and associated traffic queue lengths, save accidents, improve air quality and provide improved access to areas such as the markets.

"I hope to see a complete Orbital Route in 12 months time.

The contract has been awarded to construct the extension to Cumbrian Industrial Limited."

BLACKBURN's long-awaited Orbital Route will be finished in one year, the man in charge of the town's highways has declared.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, made the announcement after revealing work on the final section on Barbara Castle Way was due to start on August 27.

The road is being extended to Montague Street in a £2.5million project and is expected to take a year to complete.

Several car parks will be demolished. The council has opened replacements further out of town to compensate.

The Orbital Route will then pass through Copy Nook, Higher Eanam, Eanam, Barbara Castle Way, the new extension, along Montague Street, across to Freckleton Street, Canterbury Street, Lower Audley and Higher Audley.

Drivers and shop keepers have all spoken out against the scheme during the two years it has taken so far. Some have said the route is confusing, while many traders claimed they lost money through a drop of trade during building work.

But Blackburn with Darwen officers insisted the Barbara Castle Way extension was essential if the town centre was to prosper as it would keep through traffic out of the town centre.

Coun Andy Kay said at the Council Forum in Blackburn Town Hall: "I hope people look to the future about the investment the council is making.

"People say they used to be able to get into the town centre two or three minutes. I have a fair experience of travelling into town and I have never been able to get in in that time.

"There is a heck of a lot more traffic than in the past.

"The scheme is expected to reduce congestion and associated traffic queue lengths, save accidents, improve air quality and provide improved access to areas such as the markets.

"I hope to see a complete Orbital Route in 12 months time.

The contract has been awarded to construct the extension to Cumbrian Industrial Limited."