January start for £26m Blackburn motorway junction works
Junction 5 of the M65 will be enhanced to ease congestion with contractor Balfour Beatty eyeing a start on site in early 2026.
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive will meet next week to sign-off the start of work on 12 January 2026.
The £26m project will be paid for with £15m from government and £11m of developer contributions through the section 106 process.
The scheme involves the M65 southbound and northbound exit slip roads being widened from two lanes to three.
In addition, the northbound and southbound entry slip roads will also be widened to allow for the construction of segregated left turn lanes for traffic entering the motorway.
The aim of the project is to “tackle congestion, address safety concerns, and drive prosperity across East Lancashire by releasing the potential for growth,” according to a council report from 2023 when Balfour Beatty was appointed as contractor.
The scheme would enhance one of Blackburn’s growth locations. Close to Junction 5, several large employment schemes are coming forward, including a 300,000 sq ft industrial scheme that the council has selected Barnfield to deliver and Monte Blackburn’s 603,000 sq ft development.
