Major roadworks begin in Burnley soon

Traffic lights are being installed at Barracks roundabout at the top of Westway with work set to begin on Tuesday, lasting until the end of July.

Most of the work is due to take place overnight, with lane closures in place only after 6pm and before 7am.

The improvements to the Barracks roundabout will complement recent work at Gannow Top roundabout. The work is part of the £2m. Weavers’ Triangle investment and will be followed by more work to create more attractive public spaces with new high quality granite block paving in Sandygate and part of Trafalgar Street.

Upgrading of the traffic signal junction of Westgate and Trafalgar Street, known locally as the Mitre junction, and improvements to the paved areas of Trafalgar Street and Sandygate, together with the provision of a puffin crossing in Queen’s Lancashire Way, are scheduled to get underway on May 7th. The work will be completed in phases, with the section of Trafalgar Square from its junction with Westgate to the former Dextor’s Paints building the last to be finished in early September.

Lane closures in Queen’s Lancashire Way, Trafalgar Street and Sandygate will be needed to carry out the work, but all lanes will be kept open at peak times to keep disruption to a minimum. Sandygate and Trafalgar Street will need to be closed for resurfacing for a short time in August and September with diversions in place. Details of the closures will be publicised nearer the time.

The scheme is being funded courtesy of bids from Burnley Council to secure £900,000 from the European Regional Development Fund and £900,000 from the Regional Growth Fund. Lancashire County Council is contributing £150,000.

Coun. Shah Hussain, Burnley Council’s Executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: “We recognise there will be some inconvenience caused by this work but it is part of wider efforts to boost Burnley as a whole, and the Weavers’ Triangle regeneration in particular. The roadworks will improve one of the main gateway routes into Burnley and create a positive a! nd welcoming impression.”

County Coun. John Fillis, Lancashire County Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “This investment will make a real difference to visitors’ first impressions of Burnley and create a better environment for everyone who lives and works here.

“There will be long term benefits to traffic flow and prosperity in terms of attracting further jobs and investment to the town.

“I’m conscious that roadworks inevitably cause some short term disruption, but we’re aware these are busy roads and our contractors will ensure lanes are open at peak times to keep delays to a minimum as far as possible.”

Coun. Hussain added: “It’s vital to the local economy that we have good transport links. Motorists have already seen the benefits of putting traffic lights on the roundabout on the Padiham side of the motorway, in terms of improving traffic flow and cutting queues. The work at the Barracks roundabout will complete that scheme and make access to and from the M65 that much smoother.

“As far as the work around the Weavers’ Triangle is concerned we’ve already seen a massive transformation of the area. Older residents will remember what Trafalgar Street was like not that long ago and I’m sure they’re impressed by how it’s been transformed. The University Technical College has opened in one former mill. Victoria Mill is currently being transformed and brought back to life as a base for the Prince’s Trust. Ambitious plans to make Sandygate Square an attractive public open space are underway.

“The roadworks along Sandygate and Trafalgar Street are an essential part of the exciting transformation of the area. Trafalgar Street in particular will become more attractive, whether you’re driving or walking along it. Long gone are the high rise flats and derelict buildings that dominated the area.”