A TRADERS' boss today spoke of his concern that a £9million bridge aimed at ending Traffic congestion will not be complete for four years.

Council chiefs are set to secure planning permission for the four-lane bridge, which will carry Freckleton Street over the main railway line and side roads.

President of Blackburn Chamber of Trade, Raymond Goldstone, said it would solve traffic problems in the long-term but was worried work -- due to be completed in summer 2008 -- would cause more chaos.

The present bridge is said to be structurally weak and can only carry one lane of traffic, taking vehicles from Bolton Road and the Townsmoor area towards King Street.

Traffic from the other way has to go under the Darwen Street bridge - but as it is so low, lorries and other high vehicles are forced on a detour around Blackburn's orbital route past the Asda and the new B&Q superstore.

Council bosses today said the new bridge -- funded by Department of Transport - would ensure roads around in the area were left for shoppers.

Land around Canterbury Street, which carries traffic off the bridge towards Preston Old Road, will also be bought up so it can carry traffic to and from the bridge. It is expected to open up new development opportunities for offices.

The new bridge will have a lane each way for vehicles and one for buses and bikes. It will also be lit up at night.

The architect, London-based Ron Yee Associates, has a proven track record of exciting designs, boasting 206metre-high Tsing Ma suspension bridge in Hong Kong and the 404metre-long Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman causeway in Bahrain.

Work on the orbital route project started in 2000 but the development of the route has been beset by complaints of traffic congestion.

Coun Andy Kay, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "This bridge will fulfil a number of key objectives including improving traffic flow along a key route into and out of the centre, open up the Freckleton Street area for major economic development and provide the town with another key landmark, which I hope will be admired for years to come."

Mr Goldstone added: "It is going to relieve traffic problems quite a lot by taking the pressure off roads around Asda and B&Q.

"I'm just a little disappointed it is going to take until 2008 to complete.

"I thought it could have been pushed through sooner than that given that work started on the orbital route years ago.

"I'm worried that people will be put off shopping in the town by more building work and disruption that has gone on for years."

The council said measures will be put in place to ensure minimum disruption when construction work begins.