MORE traffic chaos is on the way for motorists and traders near a notorious bottleneck - soon after a £3.4 million improvement scheme finished.

Congestion looked to be a thing of the past at Brownhill roundabout, Blackburn, when the new-look road system was finished this month.

But now North West Water has announced more roadworks will start near the junction later this summer.

Shops along a stretch of Whalley New Road up to Parsonage Road in Wilpshire will face a few more months of road frustration as temporary traffic lights are turned on and the area becomes a cone zone again.

The announcement comes just as businesses were beginning to pick up after 15 months of work.

Contractors Henry Boot Construction finished transforming the roundabout this month.

Drivers are using a new dual carriageway, a re-modelled roundabout and a new traffic flow system after suffering more than a decade of congestion. North West Water worked alongside the Highways Agency when the carriageway around the roundabout had to be dug up and took the opportunity to replace a sewer part way along Whalley New Road.

Now, to complete that system, North West Water has to replace the rest of the sewer up to Parsonage Road.

A water authority spokesman said: "A new sewer is essential in the area because the old one simply is not big enough.

"Homes and shops have experienced flooding of foul sewers in heavy rains and it will be for the benefit of everyone to replace the sewers. We have not got an exact starting date for the work yet but it could start in late August or September.

"We will let shopkeepers know as soon as possible."

Traders said their first impressions of the new roundabout layout were favourable, but they feared the next round of roadworks.

Andrew Mead, from the Chip Inn chip shop, has already lost an average of £300 each week during the roundabout works.

He said: "Now that things are getting back to normal, traffic seems to be flowing better and the road looks good.

"With these latest road works planned I just don't know what is going to happen to custom."

Publicans Jim and Pat White at the Brownhill Arms have suffered huge losses and spent much of their own savings to try to keep afloat.

Mr White said: "Profits have taken a massive nosedive since work started on the roundabout in February 95.

"I have had to use much of my RAF pension and our savings just to keep our heads above water.

"Now the brewery is talking about a facelift for the pub once the work on the roundabout is finished and we have to decide whether we can finance such an operation in the hope that profits will increase dramatically.

"If we decide we can't take the risk, it could be the end of our business."

Ken Clarke from the Candy and Cards shop said: "I don't know how some of the traders have managed to keep in business through all of this.

"I just hope now that North West Water give us all a few months to get back on our feet again before they start with more road works and deal the second blow."

Craig Bibby, from the Top Half boutique, said: "We have lost tens of thousands of pounds since the work began."

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