PLANS for a major £6.8million road scheme to cut traffic congestion on one of the main roads into Blackburn and improve access to the town’s hospital have been unveiled.

The upgrade will see a busy stretch of Haslingden Road double from one lane each way to two in either direction to cut jams on a main route to the M65 and Grane Road.

There will also be major improvements to the roundabouts serving the Royal Blackburn Hospital and the junction with Shadsworth Road.

The project will also see a new highway linking Blackamoor Road with Roman Road across fields near Fishmoor Reservoir opening up land for housing and light industrial development.

The existing difficult junction between the two busy highways will be closed.

Work on the project is due to start early next year for completion by Spring 2021.

The key element of the scheme will be widening the single carriageway section of Haslingden Road between Old Bank Lane and Guide, heavily congested at rush hours, to two lanes in each direction.

This will match up with the final four-lane stretch up to Junction Five of the M65 and the A6232 Grane Road to Haslingden, the A56 and the M66 to Manchester.

Laybys in front of houses fronting onto the road will be removed to accommodate the widening with new parking areas provided behind the properties.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s regeneration boss, said: “We think this scheme addresses some of the major problems in the Haslingden Road and Blackamoor areas and this is a big chance to transform this route for the benefit of all road users and pedestrians.

“The continuing growth of Royal Blackburn Hospital presents road challenges, particularly for hospital users travelling from further afield and this project will bring benefits to them.

“I’m confident the improvements will make a positive impact on the borough for future growth, investment and employment as well as for traffic flow around some of the busiest areas of Blackburn.”

His Conservative counterpart Cllr Derek Hardman said: “This project is long overdue. The hospital is gridlocked at certain times of day. Amy improvement is welcome.”

James Maguire, East Lancashire Hospitals' NHS Trust's estates director said: “We have been working closely with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to help improve the road infrastructure to reduce congestion for local residents.

"The changes will mean our patients and staff will be able to access the hospital with greater ease and reduced stress. It also means vital life-saving minutes will be saved for patients being brought to us in emergency ambulances.”

Cllr Riley said discussions with home and other property owners along the route, including Eurogarages and the hospitals' trust over purchasing necessary land were well advanced.

Detailed plans will be on display and two drop-in public consultation meetings at the Innovation Centre in Evolution Park on Tuesday January 29 from 4 to 7pm and St James’ Church Hall, Stopes Brow on Thursday February 7 from 4 to 7pm.

The new Blackamoor Link Road, including two new traffic light-controlled junctions at Roman Road and Blackamoor Road will be followed by the closure of the existing junction between the two.

The council hopes it will improve current poor air quality at Blackamoor Junction, open up the area near the reservoir for job-creating light industrial development and for new housing.

The scheme final an largest part of the Pennine Gateways Growth Deal package which involves the Furthergate Link Road and road improvements in North Blackburn including the Brownhill roundabout upgrade.

The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership is proving £6.1m of the new investment and Blackburn with Darwen Council the remaining £700,000.