TRAFFIC misery for residents of a Blackburn road near three major housing development sites is set to continue until the spring.

Council bosses have shut Gib Lane between its junctions with Ernlouen (CORR) Close and Broken Stone Road until March 31.

The four month closure is to allow sewer, highway and footpath works and involves drivers undertaking lengthy detour to get too and from their homes.

The works, which include traffic calming measures and improved junctions, are the result of three new housing developments providing 451 homes as part of the controversial Gib Lane Masterplan.

The road closure follows traffic disruption last month at the other end of Gib Lane between Ernlouen Close and Livesey Branch Road after an excavation for sewer connections for the Wainhomes North-West 79 property Bluebell Walk development remained open for weeks longer than anticipated.

Peter Barlow, managing director of the firm, blamed unexpected hard underground rock for the problems.

The other developments are 167 homes on the Wayne Hemingway-designed 'Green Hills Blackburn' estate by Kingswood Homes and a 205 property development by Story Homes.

Cllr Keith Murray, Tory representative for Meadowhead who lives in the area, said: "The mess and misery goes on.

"After all the problems we have just had we will now have a 15-minute detour for four months.

"These developments bring no advantage to the residents of the area - just mess, inconvenience and more mess."

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss, said: "This closure is nothing to do with the previous hole in Gib Lane or Wainhomes.

"It is a planned and advertised closure for important works providing much-needed pavements and improving traffic conditions to benefit all local residents.

"Building work and sales on the three sites are going well proving there is a demand for such new housing in South Blackburn."

The notice of closure proposes diversions via Livesey Branch Road, Hordern Rake and Broken Stone Road.

A leaflet sent to residents explains: "To support the new developments, infrastructure works need to take place to improve junctions, install traffic calming and create new footways to ensure that the distinctive new residential area will be successfully integrated into the existing neighbourhood.

"At the same time, utilities such as gas, electricity and water, as well as broadband services are being installed to provide necessary services to the new houses.

"Drainage systems are also being installed."