Plan to solve problems at 'nightmare' Blackburn junction (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Plan to solve problems at 'nightmare' Blackburn junction

11:00am Saturday 29th September 2012 in News

PLANS for solving a ‘nightmare’ motorway junction affecting a village could see inter-linked traffic lights installed.

Queuing traffic at the Junction Five roundabout of the M65 at Guide, Blackburn, has made life for Belthorn residents and other commuters a misery.

Queues around the junction roundabout have seen miles of traffic queue up Grane Road , with queue jumpers speeding through the adjacent Belthorn Village.

Road engineers are investigating solutions for the plan, and one possibility is ‘intelligent’ traffic lights at School Lane, the next roundabout along. Blackburn with Darwen Council are completing surveys and investigations into whether controlling School Lane traffic turning right towards the motorway will ease congestion. The theory is that queues from School Lane, through both roundabouts and onto the M65 are blocking Grane Road traffic.

If given the go-ahead, new lights at School Lane will be linked with existing Junction Five lights to ensure the roundabouts remain clear. The lights sequence could also be timed to specifically address the rush hour problem from the Grane Road, which peaks at 8.30am.

Coun Dave Harling who oversees Blackburn with Darwen's roads, said: “We are working with Lancashire County Council and the Highways Authority to find a joint solution. It could be we use signals at both Junction Five and again at School Lane to keep the traffic flow moving. We are evaluating proposals at the moment. After the autumn, funding would need to be found for the work.” Lancashire County Council, the Highways Authority and Blackburn with Darwen Council are expected to meet up shortly to discuss a number of options.

Coun Peter Britcliffe, who is representing Belthorn residents said he would be meeting with Belthorn Residents Committee on Tuesday night to gather feedback from the village. He said: “My intention is to get a meeting set up between residents and these agencies so they can look at all the proposals put forward. It’s usually the case that people who live in the area know wwhat’s best for the area.”

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