Published Tuesday 28 April 2026 at 6:00
A series of weekly overnight closures at Junction 5 of the M65 are set to start in May.
Work is already underway to upgrade the junction to help ease congestion at peak times and improve road safety.
Once completed, the improvements – part of a £30m of new investment in improving transport routes in the area – will help reduce journey times and lower air pollution levels.
Balfour Beatty – a contractor with a strong track record of delivering major motorway schemes across the North West – has been appointed by the Council to deliver the works.
Planned overnight closures
The next phase of planned overnight closures at Junction 5 will start on 11 May 2026 and are expected to run until September 2026.
The closures are needed to allow Balfour Beatty to carry out essential deep excavation works across the roads and slip roads.
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.
Clearly signed diversion routes will be in place throughout, and access for emergency services will be maintained at all times.
Closure dates & details
The first phase of closures is expected to start on Monday 11 May 2026 and run until Friday 24 July 2026.
During this time, the A6077 and the eastbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed between 9pm and 6am on weeknights only (Mon to Fri).
During this period there will be no access to Haslingden Road, Blackamoor Road, or School Lane from Junction 5.
This is a map showing this closure:
Phase 2
The second phase is planned to start on Monday 27 July 2026 and run until Friday 11 September 2026.
During this time, the B6232 and the westbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed overnight on weeknights only, again between 9pm and 6am.
During this phase, there will be no access to the village of Belthorn from Junction 5.
This is a map showing the planned closure:
While these overnight closures are in place, please do plan ahead and allow extra time for your journeys.
Public drop-in session
Throughout this project, Balfour Beatty will be hosting drop-in sessions where you can meet the project team, ask questions, and raise any concerns.
Next session:
• Wednesday 29 April 2026
• St James Church, Lower Darwen (Stopes Brow, BB3 0QP)
• 1pm – 7pm (please drop in at any time)
The venue is fully accessible, and disabled parking is available on site.
If you’re unable to attend but have a question, you can contact the team by emailing:
BwDJunction5@blackburn.gov.uk
You can also find out more about the scheme on our website.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we deliver these important upgrades.