MOTORISTS trying to get in and around Blackburn are being subjected to roads misery due to a series of road-works.

Huge tailbacks have formed at rush hour along Preston New Road on the approach to Yew Tree Drive as gas mains work is carried out.

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The work, by National Grid, is expected to last until October 6 and the knock-on effects to drivers had not been seen until this week when Westholme schools reopened to pupils.

In the mornings and evenings as drivers attempt to get to and from their place of work, traffic has tailed back all the way to Samlesbury as one lane of Preston New Road is closed.

Further problems are exp-ected at Eanam where gas mains replacements are taking place close to the Maida restaurant.

So far the work has been confined to the area beside the roundabout between Barbara Castle Way and Eanam, but as the roadworks move across the carriageway long delays are likely with no end in sight until November.

National Grid spokeswoman Jeanette Unsworth said: “We apologise for any inconve-nience. We are doing essential work and the new plastic mains we are laying will last for 80 years.

“The long-term benefit to the people of Blackburn is that these will last for a long time.

“We will aim to finish the projects as soon as possible.”

The roadworks have piled on growing misery for drivers struggling to contend with existing traffic problems gett-ing through the town centre due to the Cathedral Quarter development.

Temporary traffic lights at either end of Railway Road have led to long delays as the £33million transformation of Blackburn town centre – due to finish next autumn – continues.

Blackburn councillor Ashley Whalley said: “Blackburn was one of the world’s first indus-trial towns and its infra-structure wasn’t designed for the amount of motor traffic currently using it, nor for the demands on water, gas, elec-tricity and sewerage disposal.

“These changes are essential for the town to move into the 21st century.”

And there have been further problems heading into town from Darwen as newly installed ‘high-tech’ traffic lights get used to traffic patterns at Hollins Grove causing tailbacks, although council bosses say these should be ironed out soon.

Further afield, repairs to a collapsed sewer in Grane Road continue to cause delays while on the M65, work to strengthen the safety barriers on the hard shoulder and bridge parapet walls are being carried out by Lancashire County Council.

The work, between Junction 11 at Burnley and Junction 12 at Brierfield is likely to cause delays until December.