Traffic lights for Gannow Top junction of M65?

The plan from Lancashire County Council is to install traffic lights at the Gannow Top roundabout off Junction 10 of the M65, as well as create improvements in walking and cycling routes from the new Burnley Bridge Business Park at Hapton.

Rosegrove Railway Station and the Leeds Liverpool Canal are also seen as central to the transport plan as the county council looks to maximise potential benefits from the Todmorden Curve rail link and Weavers’ Triangle redevelopment.

A bid to the Department for Transport has gone in for a share of the Government’s £170m. Local Pinch Point Fund, set up to reduce bottlenecks on the local highway network.

The total cost is expected to be £1.6m. which includes £478,000 from the county council.

Coun. Tim Ashton, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “One of our top priorities is to create the right conditions for economic growth, and key to encouraging businesses to invest is to demonstrate they’ll be able to travel quickly and efficiently in Lancashire as the number of vehicles on our roads continues to grow.

“The investment already being made in the area identified as the Burnley Growth Corridor will result in more traffic, and our bid makes the case for a scheme which will allow this to take place while avoiding levels of congestion which could limit further growth.

“Traffic signals at the two roundabouts at junction 10 of the M65 would allow more traffic to flow more efficiently, and the plans to improve Rosegrove Railway Station and cycling and walking routes which link to it would encourage people to reach the area by public transport and ease pressure on the road network.”

A separate bid will also be made to make improvements to the Centenary Way viaduct to correct defects identified as far back as 1995. The cost for this is expected to be £3.15m.

County Coun. Ashton added: “Centenary Way Viaduct is an integral part of the growth corridor and the separate bid for funds to carry out maintenance would help us to improve its strength to carry very heavy loads, as structural problems mean it hasn’t been able to take abnormally heavy loads since 2004.”