End in sight to Burnley roadworks misery

Several main roads in Burnley have become gridlocked in recent months as three major projects continued to affect main routes into town.

The closure of Trafalgar Street for resurfacing works created problems for drivers making their way into the town centre.

Meanwhile traffic has been queueing from the Barracks Road roundabout, where roadworks are also being carried out, and along the M65 as repairs to safety barriers along the eastbound stretch of the motorway between Burnley and Nelson are being completed.

Motorists have also complained in recent works that work on the Barracks roundabout had seemed to stop.

Lancashire County Council claimed that work was being carried out at night around a month ago but they have been working during the day since – work which was less visible than the paving works.

The county council has now confirmed that the Barracks roundabout work will be finished by mid-October and the Trafalgar Street work in November.

Graeme Leathard, principal engineer for Lancashire County Council, said: “We’re making good progress on the work in Burnley and are on schedule to have everything, including the work on Trafalgar Street, finished around early November. At the Barracks Roundabout we’re currently completing the widening of approaches from Barracks Road and Cavalry Way, and will then be putting up the traffic lights.

One of the last jobs will be to put down the new road markings, with all the work on the roundabout due to be finished around mid-October.

“Any work on the roundabout which affects lanes of traffic is being done outside peak times to minimise delays as far as possible, and we’re grateful for people’s patience while we complete these improvements.”

Further disruption was caused on Wednesday morning this week when two accidents on the M65 near to Junction 10 in Burnley caused massive tailbacks.