Motorway updates as M65 junction to be closed for 3 nights with diversions in place near Blackburn and Darwen
A busy M65 junction will be closed for three nights next week.
Work will be taking place at junction 5 (Guide) between 9pm and 6am, Monday to Wednesday (January 26 to 28).
Signed diversions will be in place and essential access for the emergency services will be maintained at all times.
The junction 5 upgrades are part of a £30 million investment in the transport infrastructure around south east Blackburn.
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said the works have been coordinated with National Highways, the Council’s highways team, emergency services, and Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital.
Balfour Beatty – a contractor with a strong track record of delivering major motorway schemes across the north west – are lead on the works, with the project expected to be completed in 2028.
A Council spokesperson said: “Please share this update with anyone you know who regularly uses the junction at these times, so they can plan their journeys in advance.
“Last week we let you know of some overnight road closures, due to the work our contractor Balfour Beatty is doing on junction 5 of the M65.
“Next week they will be working on Haslingden Road. As a result, the road will be closed from Guide junction to the junction 5 roundabout, for three nights.”
The upgrades agreed by National Highways and supported with Government funding include:
- widening the M65 eastbound exit slip from two to three lanes
- widening the M65 eastbound entry slip to create a two-lane entry
- reallocating the M65 westbound exit slip so both lanes can turn right towards Blackburn
- widening the M65 westbound entry slip to create a two-lane entry
- widening the Guide Road eastbound approach to three lanes
- widening the Haslingden Road westbound approach to three lanes
- amending and widening the roundabout to three lanes
- introducing new signal controls – linked to the adjacent Guide junction – to improve traffic flow
You can find more information on the upgrades on the Council website here.