PLANS for a multi-million road scheme which could improve safety at an accident blackspot have been unveiled.

A planning application has been lodged for a new link road and junctions to join up with Barbara Castle Way in Blackburn.

In the latest of a string of serious crashes on the road in recent years, 59-year-old pedestrian Ian Davies was killed after being hit by a car.

Figures from website Crash Map show there were eight serious and two fatal crashes along the whole of Barbara Castle Way between 2013 and 2017.

As part of the scheme, a new signalised A6078 Barbara Castle Way / Richmond Hill junction would be created, with Richmond Hill and Richmond Terrace being connected by a new proposed link road running on the back of the existing car park located between the two streets.

As part of a wider scheme and in addition to creating a new signalised A6078 Barbara Castle Way/Richmond Hill junction, the existing A6078 Barbara Castle Way / Victoria Street four-arm signal junction would be redesigned, whilst at the existing A6078 Barbara Castle Way/Ainsworth Street three-arm signal junction new cycling facilities would be provided.

Further reconfiguration of the existing highway network to the south of the A6078 Barbara Castle Way would also be carried out.

A transport statement submitted as part of the application reads: “A total of nine accidents have been reported at the A6078 Barbara Castle Way/Victoria Street signalised junction in the most recent five-year period available.

"Two out of nine accidents reported have been classified as serious by the incident severity type, whilst the rest seven accidents have been classified as slight.

“No accidents have been recorded in the immediate vicinity of Richmond Terrace during the most recent five-year period available.

"A total of two accidents have been reported in the vicinity of the A6078 Barbara Castle Way/Ainsworth Street signalised junction, one of which has been classified as serious by the incident severity type.

“It is envisaged that following implementation of the wider Fabric Borders Blackburn scheme and reconfiguration of vehicular and pedestrian routes in Blackburn town centre (including provision of the proposed new link road) the existing vehicular congestion and conflicts would be removed, which in turn would result in reduction of accidents within the study area.”

The project 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.

The project will make it easier for cars to get to Whalley Range and Northgate/Sudell Cross and will involve two years of roadworks on Barbara Castle Way.

Mr Davies suffered serious head and spinal injuries when he was hit by a Volkswagen Golf on Barbara Castle Way at 2.15pm on Monday last week.

He was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital but died on Wednesday, police confirmed.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 27-year-old man from Blackburn, was not injured.

He was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drug driving. He has since been released under investigation pending further enquiries.