THE long-delayed reopening of the exit junction from Blackburn’s Higher Audley Street onto Copy Nook has brought the £40million Pennine Reach roads scheme into its final lap.

The project to speed buses between Blackburn, Darwen and Hyndburn and ease traffic congestion for motorists, which has taken more than four years, is now virtually complete.

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The reopening of the junction, delayed for more than a year by the discovery of unexpected underground problems, leaves just the ‘missing’ section of the £4.8 Furthergate Link Road between Gorse Street and the M65 Whitebirk roundabout to be completed to finish work in Blackburn with Darwen.

In Hyndburn only a new bus lane at the Hare and Hounds junction in Clayton-le-Moors and on the Dunkenhalgh roundabout remain to be completed.

The scheme has seen new multi-million pound bus stations in Blackburn and Accrington town centres and extensive works in Ewood and Darwen.

Validation of signals for the scheme which has special public transport lanes and electronic systems to speed bus and slash passenger journey times is now under way.

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss, Cllr Phil Riley, said: “I am really pleased the top of High Audley Street on to Copy Nook and Higher Eanam is now open again.

“The delays were caused by unexpected underground problems.

“Chancellor Philip Hammond will hopefully approve a grant bid for the ‘missing link’ of Furthergate next month.”

Andrew Varley, Lancashire County Council public transport manager, said: “We’ve made good progress on Pennine Reach this year, with the milestone of opening the new Accrington bus station.

“We’ve also continued work on the bus lanes and improved junctions, and are now nearing completion on this aspect, with the installation of the bus lane at the Hare and Hounds junction in Clayton-le-Moors due in December.

“This has been rescheduled due to work at Dunkenhalgh roundabout.”

Oswaldtwistle Tory county councillor Peter Britcliffe said he remains unimpressed by the programme..

He said:”The Pennine Reach scheme has caused havoc along the way.

“I am not convinced we have got the best scheme for the millions of pounds of public money invested.

“Moving Accrington bus station has been a disaster.”