Blackburn paralysed by road works (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn paralysed by road works

5:00pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Blackburn By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

MOTORISTS attempting to enter or leave Blackburn are finding themselves caught in long tailbacks on three main arteries to the town.

Major roadworks requiring temporary traffic lights and lane reductions are simultaneously being carried out in two places in Bolton Road, Ewood, in Preston Old Road outside Witton Park, and Audley Range is closed for resurfacing from its junction with North Road to Queens Park Road.

Because of the work at Witton Park, motorway matrix signs have redirected motorists who would normally use junction three of the M65 at Riley Green, to instead exit at Darwen’s junction four, increasing the pressure through Ewood.

Motorists have reported journey times of 30 minutes travelling from the M65 junction at Darwen, to Ewood Park.

Ewood Councillor Florence Oldfield said: “I only found out about the problems when I was picked up by a friend and they said ‘look at that shambles’.

Whoever is responsible for all these roadworks going on at the same time need to let people know, so alternative routes can be thought about.”

Councillor Maureen Bateson, executive member for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said the Ewood resurfacing work should be finished by the end of the week.

She said: “I can imagine it is very frustrating for motorists finding that an alternative route is also experiencing roadwork problems, but it is essential and has been requested by residents.

“There are not a lot of diversions available off Bolton Road, and we do always try to do work outside of football season.”

United Utilities are responsible for work outside Witton Park, which is expected to last for another month.