Months of overnight M65 closures set to begin

A series of closures on the M65 are set to begin from tonight to allow for improvement works, a council has said.

The closures at Junction 5 will take place from 11 May to 11 September and are expected to cause major traffic disruptions in and around the junction.

In the first phase of closures, the A6077 and the eastbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed between 21:00 and 06:00 BST on weeknights from 11 May to 24 July.

During this period, there will be no access to Haslingden Road, Blackamoor Road or School Lane from Junction 5.

In the second phase of closures, from 27 July to 11 September, the B6232 and the westbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed overnight on weeknights between 21:00 and 06:00 BST.

During this phase, there will be no access to the village of Belthorn from Junction 5.

Some work is already under way to upgrade the junction to help ease congestion at peak times and improve road safety, Blackburn with Darwen Council said.

Once completed, the overhaul – part of a £30m investment to improve transport routes in the area through the Blackburn Growth Axis Transport (South East) scheme – aims to reduce journey times and lower air pollution levels.

A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokesman said: "We appreciate that overnight closures can be inconvenient, particularly for those living or working nearby.

"Please be assured that these works have been carefully planned by the contractor to minimise disruption wherever possible, while maintaining the safety of both road users and the workforce."

The spokesperson said clearly signed diversion routes would be in place and advised motorists to allow extra time for their journeys.

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