Bus passengers are set to benefit from two major highway schemes aimed at improving access to Blackburn town centre.

A new bus lane will open at the end of the month at the junction of Larkhill and Barbara Castle Way which will change access arrangements into Penny Street.

It is part of the Council’s long term vision for the town centre and will pave the way for the future development of Ainsworth Street and the three and six day markets site.

Penny Street will be closed to through general traffic in a southbound direction, with traffic into the town centre diverted along Barbara Castle Way to Salford and Ainsworth Street. Penny Street northbound remains unchanged.

The second scheme, which is being advertised from January 27th, will allow buses to access Blackburn College and the new community health centre that is due to open in November for the first time.

Cardwell Place, King Street and the first part of Barton Street are being reversed to traffic to allow buses to get to and from the north west quarter of town where they currently cannot access.

The changes will also improve access to the new Feilden Street multi storey car park.

It will also improve access from the Mall as shoppers leaving the car park will now have the option to exit via Darwen Street or down King Street straight onto the Orbital Route.

Motorists will still be able to get onto Mall the car park from the south via Mincing Lane but will be directed along King Street, Barton Street and Cardwell Place or from the west via Montague Street, Feilden Street and Cardwell Place.

Other highway improvements at Penny Street have also been introduced including three lanes on the southbound approach to Larkhill to reduce congestion and a new left hand turn extension on Barbara Castle Way at its junction with Larkhill to cut down on the number of cars queuing at the traffic lights.

Access to the NCP car park and Thwaites on Penny Street remains from Barbara Castle Way but not Larkhill.

Councillor Dave Harling, Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “Buses currently cannot get from the Boulevard to the north west quarter of town. This area has undergone major regeneration with the College development and the new health centre and it is essential that residents and visitors can access them using public transport.

Sir Bill Taylor, chair of Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus, said: “We are building a new community health facility in the town centre in order to make it easier for patients to access a wide range of health services in a single, convenient location, so we are delighted that this new bus stop will make it even easier for patients to travel there.”

“As well as improving access to the Mall’s car park and reducing congestion, it will also improve safety for pedestrians as the traffic lights are being removed on Mincing Lane, Cardwell Place and King Street and being replaced with zebra crossings.

“The improvements at Larkhill are yet another piece in the jigsaw aimed at promoting public transport, making the town centre less congested with traffic and improving access to the Orbital Route.”

Transdev’s Marketing Director Nigel Eggleton said, “We are sure the new measures will improve bus travel in Blackburn and reduce journey times. Now the new links to the College and the Health Centre have been agreed we can sit down and plan new travel opportunities for our passengers.”