COUNCIL chiefs today apologised for traffic chaos on the A666 between Blackburn and Darwen - before defending their decision to carry out roadworks.

Commuter traffic between the towns has been gridlocked during rush hour because two popular routes leading off the A666, Lower Eccleshill Road and Bog Height Road, have been closed for resurfacing and restructuring work.

Temporary traffic lights set up near Blackburn Royal Infirmary while a bridge over the canal is strengthened have added to the delays.

One motorist, who did not wish to be named, said: "It took me 40 minutes to get from the junction with Sandy Lane to the junction with Hollins Grove Street, which must be a record.

"There has been no consultation with the public and there is no sense of urgency about getting the job completed." But Ian Richardson, traffic and transportation manager for the council, said the work was necessary and would mean less disruption in the long term.

He said the work had to be done now because freezing conditions would worsen the condition of the roads - meaning the problems would take longer to fix next year.

He said the Infirmary scheme could not be started earlier because the council was waiting for permission from British Waterways.

The council had been allocated funding for the Bog Height and Eccleshill schemes in April and the plans for the project had not been ready until now.

He said: "Unfortunately they both happened at once but in the longer term it is better because they will not take as long to do as they would if we had left it until next year. "We would hope that we would not need to do it again for another 20 years.

"As a council we apologise for any disruption but we are maintaining the highway for the longer term benefit of the borough."

Earcroft councillor Mike Barrett said he had every sympathy for those affected by the roadworks, which are the latest in a series of works which have disrupted traffic on the A666.

"Altogether it is causing terrible heartache and real difficulties along there, especially at peak times.

"The people around there and the travelling public have had a terrible time," he said.

Work should be completed on Lower Eccleshill Road by tomorrow and on Bog Height Road by February 15. The work at the Infirmary will last into next spring.

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