A RADICAL £2.9million road scheme in a town centre to ease traffic flow has been given the government green light.

The project will make it easier for cars to get to Whalley Range and Northgate/Sudell Cross in Blackburn.

The scheme will involve two years of roadworks on Barbara Castle Way but aims to boost and extend the existing town centre.

Yesterday, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling approved the government’s £2million contribution to the ‘Fabric Borders’ project leaving Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to find £900,000.

The full design will now be prepared for work in 2020/21.

It involves new junctions on Barbara Castle Way with Randall Street and Victoria Street and the reopening of the full length of Northgate, currently closed between Duke Street and Sudell Cross, to through traffic in both directions.

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Cllr Phil Riley, borough regeneration boss, said: “This is great news.

“It will widen the town centre and stop Barbara Castle Way acting as a barrier to its extension.

“The scheme will bring Whalley Range with its range of fashion, textile and clothes shops into the main retail area, thus the ‘Fabric Borders’ title which is also a nod to Blackburn’s textile heritage.

“It will also improve access to and from King George’s Hall and Northgate, where we have a £3million heritage lottery improvement project.”

Tony Duckworth, president of Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, said: “I think overall this is a good idea.

“The reopening of Northgate is a major improvement but it will have a significant detrimental effect of traders in the short term.”

The scheme includes a new highway at Richmond Hill; a new link road between Ainsworth Street and Richmond Terrace and reorganised junctions at Sudell Cross/Northgate to ease access to and from Tontine Street and Limbrick.

The council estimates the scheme could open up 16 development sites creating between 370 and 690 new jobs.

Cllr Riley promised to keep traffic disruption in Barbara Castle Way to a minimum by phasing the works carefully.