Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved its £12.5 million budget for major projects on its roads, with potholes and traffic signal maintenance identified as high priorities.

The borough's funding pot is made up of a £5,163,900 government grant for 2024/25, £5,068,000 carried forward from previous years, and £2,327,740 from Section 106 contributions from housing and other developments.

The approval of the Highways Capital Programme by the council's executive board on Thursday comes as complaints grow about a traffic lights malfunction causing major delays for fans leaving home games at Ewood Park, with long queues trailing back from Preston Old Road at the junction with Buncer Lane all the way back up Stancliffe Street, for a period of more than two months.

After Thursday's meeting, Blackburn with Darwen Council growth boss, Cllr Quesir Mahmood, said: "This is an exciting year for Blackburn with Darwen Council’s highways department which is reflected in our 2024/25 capital programme.

"The forthcoming programme will address improvements in our highways assets and supports a number of the council’s corporate priorities.

"As a result of the government scrapping the Northern leg of the HS2 project, the council has received additional funding for the maintenance of our roads under the Network North Plan.

"This additional funding is much needed after many years of under investment in the roads by government.

"The funding will have a positive impact on the condition of our road network and will help us to improve travel and ride quality for our residents.

"This year’s Highways Capital Programme also represents an increase in funding over previous years to treat defects on our roads to address the significant increase in potholes in recent years.

"Funding has been set aside for the planned maintenance of our footways and road markings, representing the start of a recurrent maintenance strategy for these essential highway assets.

"The council has also been successful in receiving additional funding to maintain our traffic signals with the funding used in this year’s programme to replace and modernise some of our out-dated traffic signals to improve traffic flow and ease congestion.

"Our bus service improvement schemes aim to reduce bus journey times with more frequent and faster buses on the roads offering better coverage and facilities, along with lower and simpler fares, improving travel and access for all across our borough.

"Delivering additional road maintenance works and schemes whilst protecting the environment and creating a healthier future is paramount in our ambitions."