M65 upgrade date announced

A £30million drive to tackle congestion at one of the key gateway junctions into Blackburn and Darwen will start in July.

Borough growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood reveals the firm date to begin the 16-month project at the M65’s Junction 5, near Guide, in a report to the council’s executive board meeting on Thursday.

The senior councillors will be asked to authorise the preparatory works needed for main contractor Balfour Beatty to get to work in earnest.

The move followed the scheme being given planning permission to proceed in August.

Work on clearing vegetation from the areas will start on Monday and take a total of three weeks to complete.

The works to Junction 5 of the M65 include:

* widening the roundabout to provide three lanes;

* widening the M65 Eastbound exit to provide three lanes;

* widening the M65 Eastbound and Westbound entry slip roads to two lanes;

* widening the A6077 approach to three lanes at the roundabout;

* widening the B6232 Haslingden road approach at the roundabout;

* re-marking the M65 Westbound exit slip road to allow both lanes to be used for traffic travelling towards Blackburn; and

* new ‘intelligent’ traffic lights on the roundabout linking to the Guide junction.

The overall £30 million Blackburn Growth Axis Transport (South East) scheme also includes improvements to local cycling and walking routes.

Cllr Mahmood’s Conservative counterpart Cllr Paul Marrow said: “The council are obviously pressing ahead with this project.

“It’s going to be at traffic nightmare around the Haslingden Road junction.

“There are already concerns about the safety of the M65.

“If the new warehousing planned for junction 3 goes ahead the congestion on this motorway is going to be horrendous.”

Cllr Mahmood’s document says: “This report seeks approval for the Council to commence enabling works and other mobilisation activities in advance of construction works which are due to commence in July 2025.

“The council intends to place orders with statutory utility providers for service diversion works required in advance of the main construction works.

“In addition, the council will instruct Balfour Beatty to undertake a package of enabling and mobilisation works to facilitate a start on site.

“It approves the principle of part use of the council’s operational depot facility at Davyfield Road as a potential site compound for Balfour Beatty to use during the construction works.”

The preliminary works include:

* service diversions and enabling works which include contractor mobilisation activities;

* the relocation of a camera on the A6077 Haslingden Road with traffic management undertaking this work with lane closures agreed with National Highways and the council;

* the placing of early orders and payment of £1.6m in advance to the statutory utility providers (United Utilities, Openreach BT, Cadent Gas and Electricity North West) for design, procurement and construction activities associated with any necessary diversion works;

*the traffic signals at the Guide Junction of Haslingden Road, Blackamoor Road and School Lane being upgraded and linked to the new traffic signals at

the Junction 5 with early works undertaken in advance of the main construction work to provide immediate benefits to road users;

*third party land acquisitions required for the scheme at the southeast corner adjacent to Haslingden Road being agreed with two private landowners; and

* authorisation for the council to enter into a legal agreement with National Highways to agree the scope of work to be undertaken on their motorway network by Balfour Beatty which involves the council paying for all agreed works and covering NH’s costs in checking the designs to ensure the works can be signed-off.

Cllr Mustafa Desai, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s 4BwD official opposition group said: “This is one of the main gateway junctions providing access to Blackburn and Darwen.” Traffic congestion has historically presented challenges so the proposed overhaul of the junction is most welcomed.”