DRIVERS in Blackburn and Darwen face five years of traffic misery after water bosses unveiled plans for £35million of drainage works.

The huge project, which is aimed at cleaning out the rivers Blakewater and Darwen, will run until October 2014.

United Utilities admits the work to replace miles of pipes and install five underground overflow tanks will cause “significant disruption”.

And local councillors are anticipating “widespread chaos” on the roads.

Negotiations are underway between the company and Blackburn with Darwen council to decide on road closures and diversions in the 10 different areas.

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said: “It is a major job which must be done to improve standards and stop the sewers overflowing into rivers.

“There will be serious diversions, but they have to make provisions to keep traffic moving, it can’t just be dug up and left to us.

“It is a joint approach, we won’t be absent from blame if there’s upset, so we might look at limiting it to certain times of the day, even night work and alter the timing to school holidays to keep disruption to a minimum.”

One the first areas to be affected will be around Ewood Park, starting in May, where a section of the busy A666 is set to be closed for at least two months, and a car park off Aqueduct Road will be unavailable.

Blackburn Rovers have been involved in the negotiations, with bosses anxious to avoid the disruption dragging into the new football season.

Meanwhile, a two-year project to install a storage tank and install larger sewers will begin in Infirmary Street.

In Darwen, the busy junction of Sudell Road and Marsh House Lane will also be dug up with four months set aside for the work.

In a letter to councillors, Mark Donaghy, of United Utilities, said: “The improvements needed involve large engineering solutions and the work will have an impact on the community, which unfortunately, will affect residents and motorists.”

Ewood councillor Maureen Bateson said three sites had been earmarked in her ward, including outside the Thwaites Theatre.

She said: “It’s going to be extremely trying. These are busy roads and I feel for the residents.”

Deputy council leader Tony Melia, who represents the Sunnyhurst ward in Darwen, said he had been warned about the work in Sudell Road.

He said: “It’s going to be absolute chaos on that junction. These are busy roads and it will cause major disruption.”

Other areas to be affected include Wesley Street off Whalley New Road, Gorse Street, Witton Park and Larkhill.

More detail about how each area will be affected will emerge as planning permission is obtained for the different stages of the work.

Bosses said the work was needed because the borough’s outdated sewer overflow system cannot cope with the level of rainfall resulting from global warming. This means an increasing volume of dirty water is running into rivers after downpours.

Carly Ratcliffe, the project manager for United Utilities, said the Blakewater and Darwen rivers would be “transformed” once the work, which will create 1000 cubic metres of wastewater storage, had finished.

She said: “We’ll bring the hearts of both rivers back to life, transforming the quality of the water that currently enters the rivers from the local sewer network following heavy downpours of rain.

“Blackburn’s rivers will be revitalised and improved for local anglers, they will be attractive to walk along, they will create new habitats for wildlife and they will improve a safe and cleaner environment for everyone to enjoy.”

>> LOCATIONS AND DATES

Sudell Road, Darwen: Improvements to sewers. April 2010 to August 2010.

Aqueduct Road, Blackburn: Improvements to sewers, new storage tank. May 2010 to May 2011.

Bolton Road, Blackburn: Improvements to sewers. May 2010 to May 2011.

Wesley Street, Blackburn: Installation of a new underground chamber. May 2010 to November 2010.

Gorse Street, Blackburn. Improvements to sewers. June 2010 to February 2011.

Infirmary Street, Blackburn: Improvements to sewers, new storage tank. May 2010 to May 2012.

Witton Park: New storage tank, new underground chamber May 2011 to May 2012.

Lark Hill Area: Improvements to sewers. April 2011 to October 2012.

Audley Range/Queens Park, Blackburn: Improvements to sewers, new storage tank. April 2011 to April 2013.

Cob Wall area, Blackburn: Tunnelling under the canal, improved sewers, new chamber and storage tank. May 2012 to October 2014.