New Year start confirmed for motorway junction upgrade

Work to improve Junction Five of the M65 is set to get underway in January, it has been revealed.

The upgrades are part of more than £30m of new investment for south east Blackburn to help improve the roads and active travel networks.

Now, it has been confirmed that contractors Balfour Beatty will start on site in the New Year.

As well as widening the M65 slip roads and upgrading the roundabout to three lanes, the Guide junction will also be improved with new signals.

The full details have been set out in a new report to Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive board.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, the council’s deputy leader and executive member for growth and development, said: “As part of more than £100m of government investment we’ve successfully secured in recent years, £20m has been allocated specifically to transport improvements in south east Blackburn – in and around Junction Five of the M65 and the surrounding area.”

In total, around £31m is being invested in south east Blackburn, with £20m of government funding together with £11m from the council, which will be repaid through developer contributions from new homes and employment sites in the area.