COMMUTERS could be set for an early Christmas present as council bosses look set to approve plans for an £11.4 million road widening scheme.

The scheme at Haslingden Road in Blackburn aims to cut traffic congestion on one of the main roads the town and improve access to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The planned upgrades, which have been slightly revised from the initial blueprints following consultation with residents, will see Haslingden Road widened between the Beehive roundabout and Royal Blackburn Hospital and the creation of a new entrance to Royal Blackburn Hospital at Old Bank Lane.

There will also be a creation of a new Blackamoor link road and junction improvements.

Case officer Nick Blackledge said: “The application represents a major development that accords with the council’s corporate priority objectives, enabling further progress with its ‘Growth Deal 3 Pennine Gateways’ project which will invest £13 million in key transport infrastructure across the borough between 2018 and 2021.

“This follows receipt of £320 million, secured by the Local Enterprise Partnership, from the Government's local growth fund to support economic growth in the Lancashire area.

“The Pennine Gateways project will deliver strategic transport improvements at three of the main gateways into the borough off the M65 motorway at junctions 4, 5 and 6.

“Investment at these adjoining gateways will extend the concept of the Hyndburn – Burnley – Pendle Growth Corridor to the M65 growth corridor and release the potential of a number of adjacent strategic sites to accelerate new development opportunities.”

Members of the council’s planning and highways committee are recommended to grant permission when they meet on Thursday next week.

A seperate application will also be heard for

Mr Blackledge added: "Whilst the new link road is not expected to generate additional traffic in itself, it is designed to facilitate local housing and employment growth, as well as to

redirect HGV traffic away from the Blackamoor Road and Roman Road signalised junction.

"Traffic forecasting and future flow rate scenarios have taken into account committed developments, relevant housing and employment site allocations identified in the Development Plan and potential additional future development sites across south east Blackburn.

"Although outside of the scope of works requiring planning permission, the scheme also includes stopping up of the B6231 Blackamoor Road, resulting in all traffic between its junction with Roman Road and its junction with Walker Road redistributing to utilise the new link road."