BLACKBURN town centre faces half-term traffic chaos when Railway Road closes for a week at the end of the month.

The highway between the railway station and the Cathedral Quarter development will be sealed off for seven days from Monday October 27 for resurfacing.

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Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade president Tony Duckworth said: “It will be chaos.”

Borough regeneration boss Maureen Bateson said the new highway surface will be laid for the road to re-open on November 3.

She promised all street closures for the town centre redevelopment would be lifted by the end of November for Christmas shopping.

The closure comes on top of disruption to another main route into Blackburn town centre.

Eanam has one way traffic and diversions until the end of next month for gas main replacement.

The closure will take in the top of Bridge Street, which will become two-way for access, and run as far as the corner of High Street by the Adelphi pub.

The resurfacing, the first for more than 20 years, involves laying a special hardwearing compound to withstand the vibration of waiting buses without damage.

Once the works are completed, temporary traffic lights will be removed from the former Boulevard.

Signed diversions will be in place for motorists. Buses will be rerouted with services beginning and terminating at the bus station. Pedestrians will be unaffected.

The council plans a town centre shuttle bus for older people, those with mobility problems and travellers with luggage.

Smaller resurfacing works at the Penny Street end of Railway Road will take place in the New Year.

Mr Duckworth said: “It will be chaos but sometimes it is better to close the road completely and get it done than have works dragging on for weeks.

“Traders just need the council to get on with all the road works and get them done.”

Coun Bateson said: “This is the last final push in good time before the Christmas embargo at the end of November.

“The resurfacing work has been scheduled for half-term when we hope it will be quieter, but we do appreciate there will be short-term disruption.”