WORK on the two-pronged £3 million improvement scheme to Blackburn’s Haslingden Road corridor and M65 Guide roundabout has begun.

Despite short-term lane closures and disruption, it aims to end the traffic jam ‘nightmare’ from the motorway and on the Grane Road through Belthorn.

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It will also ease travel for patients and relatives coming by car from across East Lancashire to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The scheme in Haslingden Road includes the widening of the road between the Guide Roundabout and the M65 junction five to provide two lanes in both directions.

It also involves the full signalisation with traffic lights of the roundabout at junction five of the M65 at Guide.

All the works are due to be completed by the end of March 2015. Preparatory works along Haslingden Road began last week, setting back the wall belonging to Ensor Building Supplies.

This will allow the widening of the outbound carriageway to two lanes.

From Monday, (September 22) one lane inbound will be closed between 9.30am and 3pm, to allow for new LED lighting to be installed.

In early October, the embankment between Haslingden Road and Spinning Avenue, protecting houses from potential flooding, will be reshaped whilst works are carried out.

It will be reinstated to its original height once works are completed.

After a short break, work on the main schemes will resume again at the end of October.

Blackburn with Darwen borough regeneration boss Maureen Bateson said: “The two schemes complement each other and will ensure that congestion will be eased on Haslingden Road and at the busy motorway roundabout.

“Visitors, workers and residents, particularly for the village of Belthorn, will see improvements as the traffic will flow better and congestion will be reduced.

“There will be times when there will be disruption, delays or requirements to divert traffic because of closures.”