Motorists suffer more traffic misery

Mains burst and resurfacing cause long tailbacks

● Burnley Road in Crawshawbooth is closed after a major water leak, both pictures below. Resurfacing work on Hud Hey Road in Haslingden has also caused delays.

CHRIS GEE

MOTORISTS endured lengthy delays this week after a water main collapse on a major route through the Valley, coupled with road resurfacing chaos.

The water main collapse, underneath the A682 Burnley Road in Crawshawbooth, caused major disruption including flooding, loss of water supplies and the complete closure of the main road between Rawtenstall and Burnley.

There were also separate complaints of several days of gridlock in Rising Bridge and Haslingden after roadwork delays necessitated by Hud Hey Road resurfacing.

Roads bosses apologised and said the Haslingden work was hit by ‘ wintry weather’.

Drivers faced miles of diversions until Monday evening after Burnley Road was closed for emergency repairs following the burst close to the White Bull and Indian Harvest restaurant, on Sunday afternoon, February 3. Traffic was diverted using Turton Hollow Road and Barley Holme Road.

Victoria Nuttall posted on our Facebook page: “Everyone is driving through Haslingden to get to the M65. It was horrendous this morning.”

United Utilities originally estimated that the road would remain closed until Wednesday. However, one lane was re-opened on Monday evening, with traffic controlled by temporary traffic lights.

A spokesman explained: “On Sunday afternoon we had a burst on a water main close to the junction of Burnley Road and Adelaide Street. Water was restored the same evening, but a section of the A682 Burnley Road was closed until repairs to the road are completed. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience the burst had and the subsequent road closure, which we are working as quickly as we can to get back open.”

Elsewhere, ‘furious’ drivers vented their displeasure after getting caught up in long delays in and around Rising Bridge, caused by Lancashire County Council (LCC) roadworks.

Emma Cooper tweeted that the gridlock was ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and a 10-minute journey was taking 50 minutes. She added: “Never known an inconvenience like it, furious.”

Eric Wroot posted: “The diversion down Rising Bridge Road is an absolute joke and infuriating residents. It’s a bit of resurfacing, sort it out.”

LCC said things should return to normal by Thursday. A spokesman said: “We’ve been resurfacing a stretch of Hud Hey Road, and apologise for the delays to people’s journeys in this area while we carry out this vital work. The surfacing was finished on Monday.

“It would have been finished the previous week, however the wintry weather caused some delays.

“The temporary traffic signals will remain in place until Thursday when we’re planning to return to carry out the anti-skid treatment, however this is the final stage and everything should be back to normal later on Thursday.” ●● Wk Works t to repair i th the collapsed ll d main i on B Burnley l Road, Crawshawbooth, on Tuesday and (inset) police sealing off the road after Sunday’s burst