THESE two pictures record an important moment as far as transport in East Lancashire was concerned.

In March 1965, a new dual carriageway opened which linked up with the new junction for the M6 at Samlesbury.

The re-worked A59 meant much easier access to the motorway network for vehicles travelling from Blackburn and the Ribble Valley in particular, reducing congestion and overall travel times.

When you consider how busy this stretch of road is now, it’s difficult to believe how little traffic was on the newly-opened stretch.

But the planners clearly got their forecasts right and those high volumes of traffic we experience today prove the need for the new stretch of road almost 50 years ago.