Member Article

Latest phase of Weavers’ Triangle works to boost Burnley gateway

Work is due to start this month in Burnley on a new phase of the Weavers’ Triangle project which will see major improvements to the gateway into the town from the M65.

The focus of the £2m investment is a facelift of public areas to create “a positive and welcoming impression” and boost regeneration.

The first part of the scheme will add traffic signals to the Barracks roundabout to improve traffic flow, followed by further work to create more attractive public spaces with new high quality granite block paving on Sandygate and part of Trafalgar Street.

The improvements to the Barracks roundabout will complement recent work to put traffic lights on the Gannow Top roundabout on the Padiham side of the motorway, and help to cut queues.

Lancashire County Council will begin this phase of the project on Tuesday 22 April. To avoid major disruption to drivers, most of the work will take place overnight, with lane closures in place only after 6pm and before 7am. The work is scheduled to be completed and the roundabout reopened at the end of July.

The upgrade of the traffic signal junction of Westgate and Trafalgar Street, known locally as the Mitre junction, and improvements to the paved areas of Trafalgar Street and Sandygate, together with the provision of a puffin crossing on Queen’s Lancashire Way, are scheduled to get underway on Wednesday 7 May.

The work will be completed in phases, with the section of Trafalgar Square from its junction with Westgate to the former Dextor’s Paints building the last to be finished in early September.

Lane closures on Queen’s Lancashire Way, Trafalgar Street and Sandygate will be needed to safely carry out the work, but all lanes will be kept open at peak times to keep disruption to a minimum. Sandygate and Trafalgar Street will need to be closed for resurfacing for a short time in August and September with diversions in place.

The scheme is being funded thanks to bids from Burnley Council to secure £900k from the European Regional Development Fund and £900k from the Regional Growth Fund. Lancashire County Council is contributing £150,000.

Councillor Shah Hussain, Burnley Council’s executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: “We recognise there will be some inconvenience caused by this work but it is part of wider efforts to boost Burnley as a whole, and the Weavers’ Triangle regeneration in particular.

“The roadworks will improve one of the main gateway routes into Burnley and create a positive and welcoming impression.”

County Councillor John Fillis, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “This investment will make a real difference to visitors’ first impressions of Burnley and create a better environment for everyone who lives and works here.

“There will be long term benefits to traffic flow and prosperity in terms of attracting further jobs and investment to the town.

“I’m conscious that roadworks inevitably cause some short term disruption, but we’re aware these are busy roads and our contractors will ensure lanes are open at peak times to keep delays to a minimum as far as possible.”

Councillor Hussain added: “It’s vital to the local economy that we have good transport links. Motorists have already seen the benefits of putting traffic lights on the roundabout on the Padiham side of the motorway, in terms of improving traffic flow and cutting queues.

“As far as the work around the Weavers’ Triangle is concerned we’ve already seen a massive transformation of the area. Older residents will remember what Trafalgar Street was like not that long ago and I’m sure they’re impressed by how it’s been transformed.

“The University Technical College has opened in one former mill. Victoria Mill is currently being transformed and brought back to life as a base for the Prince’s Trust. Ambitious plans to make Sandygate Square an attractive public open space are underway”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .