A MAIN street into Blackburn has been closed, in a bid to ensure roadworks are completed before the Christmas rush.

Lower Audley Street was closed to Traffic yesterday and will re-open on Wednesday lunchtime.

The closure will enable resurfacing works and the diversion of gas mains to be complete before the busy shopping period.

Traffic will be diverted from the Audley junction along Bennington Road, right on to Haslingden Road and along Park Road towards the Darwen Street bridge.

Traffic travelling out of the town centre will be largely unaffected, with some delays expected.

Other works ongoing in the town centre include:

Construction of the new gyratory system, including resurfacing of roads in the Townsmoor area. Delays are expected.

Orbital route preparations on Canterbury Street and Freckleton Street are also causing delays.

Work at the junction of King Street and Montague Street has led to long delays.

New work at the Peel development in Lower Audley Street has begun and will last until middle of February.

North West Water repairs in Canterbury Street and Darwen Street are due to end this week.

The Church Street redevelopment will go on until April next year.