NEW holes in the road for gas main and Cathedral Quarter works are causing rush hour chaos on the way into Blackburn town centre.

Before Christmas, borough highways bosses imposed a ban of roadworks to ease traffic problems for seasonal shoppers.

Now key roads in and into the town centre have been hit by new excavations.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The junction between Copy Nook and Higher Audley Street has been closed for as the first stage of utility diversions for the building of the Furthergate link road, worsening peak time traffic congestion on Bottomgate, Burnley Road and Accrington Road back to Whitebirk’s junction six of the M65. Diversions are in place.

Similar gas main replacement work is taking place in Church Street in the town centre.

Repair work on gas mains on the junction of Daisy Street and Cleaver Street is causing problems for motorists trying to avoid jams on Eanam who are being directed to Barbara Castle Way via Larkhill.

Blackburn with Darwen borough council are currently removing a traffic island opposite Penny Street on Salford.

It has returned Railway Road to traffic-light-controlled single-file traffic for pavement replacement as part of the £33 million Cathedral Quarter redevelopment.

The footway upgrading will continue round the corner on to Salford when the traffic island has been removed in the next 10ten days.

A National Grid spokesman said: “The excavation in the Church Street is the final piece of the work to complete the mains replacement we’ve done on Salford and Eanam.

“On Monday, we start work on renewing a three-inch diameter gas main in Cicely Lane and this work will take around two weeks to complete.

“The work on Copy Nook is at the request of the borough council and due to be completed by the end of next week.

“We are moving gas mains as part of the preparation work for the new link road.

“ Once we have finished on Copy Nook, we’ll be starting work on February 16 on Bottomgate and Furthergate, moving mains in these locations for the new road at the request of the council.

“The work on Daisy Street is essential gas main repairs and due to be finished by the end of next week.”

A Blackburn with Darwen council spokesman said: “Contractors Eric Wright have recommenced the footway works on the Morrisons side of Railway Road.

“Temporary lights will be in operation whilst the pedestrian walkway is maintained in the current road to ensure pedestrian safety.”