Road works blamed for Blackburn traffic increase (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Road works blamed for Blackburn traffic increase

2:30pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By Neil Docking, Reporter

REPAIRS ANGER Part of the roadworks in Dickens Street

A COUNCILLOR has blamed ongoing United Utilities road works for an increase in traffic in residential streets.

A five-year-old boy was knocked down by a car in Blackburn last month where the firm is undertaking part of a £35million water quality and drainage improvement scheme.

The Audley Community Infant School pupil was struck by a car at the junction of Pringle Street and Queen’s Park Road around 9am.

He was not injured but was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital by ambulance as a precaution.

United Utilities, which is carrying out the work, said it was concerned to hear of this accident and would be happy to meet with Audley School to talk about road safety in the area.

Queen’s Park ward councillor Salim Mulla said he believed the underlying cause of the accident was the diversion of vehicles due to the works, which started last summer.

He said: “It’s been a nightmare since these road works started.

“The increase in traffic around here has been at least two-fold because of the diversions, people are taking short cuts and it’s become very dangerous.

“It’s sad that an accident has taken place but I’m not really surprised because of the volume of traffic the road works have generated.

“I think United Utilities have let the community down because originally they said the work would be done by the end of December, then January and now they are saying the end of February.

"People are very angry.”

A section of Audley Range at its junction with Queens Park Road was closed with diversions along Chester Street, Strath-clyde Road, William Hopwood Street and Lambeth Street.

It reopened on Friday.

A section of Queens Park Road from its junction with Ripon Street up towards Audley Range and part of Dickens Street remain closed.

A United Utilities spokesman said: “Diversions put in place while our work is taking place are agreed with the Highways Authority and in accordance with traffic regulations.

“It is unfortunate that some of our work in the area has taken longer than anticipated and we apologise for the continued inconvenience.

“As with any major engineering project, we can only estimate how long work will take and we have encountered some difficulties along the way.”