Published Thursday 6 November 2025 at 10:35
Work to improve Junction 5 of the M65 is set to start in January.
The upgrades are part of more than £30m of new investment for South East Blackburn to help improve the roads and active travel networks.
Now, it’s been confirmed that contractors Balfour Beatty, which have successfully delivered major motorway schemes across the North West, will start on site in the New Year.
In anticipation of the January start, site compounds will be set up in the coming weeks next to the junction off Belthorn Road and at the Council’s Davyfield depot.
Once work begins, the main construction will take place during off-peak times – 9:30am–3:30pm – to help keep disruption to a minimum.
Emergency services – including representatives from Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital – have been involved in the planning and the scheme will be under constant review by National Highways to monitor any impact on congestion.
As well as widening the M65 slip roads and upgrading the roundabout to three lanes, the Guide junction will also be improved with new signals following resident feedback.
The full details have been set out in a new report to Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Board.
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:
Residents tell us that improving our roads and the way they get around our borough is important to them, so this is a scheme we’re really pleased to be bringing forward.
As part of more than £100m of Government investment we’ve successfully secured in recent years, £20m has been allocated specifically to transport improvements in South East Blackburn – in and around Junction 5 of the M65 and the surrounding area.
We want to make the most of every single penny for our residents and businesses and have been working on detailed plans – for improving Junction 5 and the new walking and cycling travel routes, which support journeys made without a car.
We’ve already shared these proposals with residents, listened to their feedback, and work is well underway on the active travel routes – including the recent opening of the Arran Trail.
In the coming weeks, residents will start to see activity in and around Junction 5 too, with works due to fully start in the early New Year.
The upgrades are designed to help ease congestion in the area and have been agreed by National Highways.
They include:
- Widening the M65 eastbound exit slip from two lanes to three lanes
- Widening the M65 eastbound entry slip to make it a two-lane entry
- Reallocating the M65 westbound exit slip so both lanes can turn right to Blackburn
- Widening the M65 westbound entry slip to create a two-lane entry
- Widening the Guide Road eastbound approach to three lanes
- Widening the Haslingden Road westbound approach to three lanes
- Amending and widening the roundabout to three lanes
- Introducing signal controls, linked to the adjacent Guide junction, to allow better traffic flow
The first phase of works will focus on the stretch from the Guide junction to the M65 slip road from Blackburn towards Burnley.
In total, there’s around £31m invested in South East Blackburn, with £20m of Government funding together with £11m funded by Blackburn with Darwen Council, which will be repaid through developer contributions from new homes and employment sites in the area.
A dedicated website – www.blackburn.gov.uk/SEBlackburn – has been set up to keep residents and nearby businesses informed throughout the project, with work expected to be completed in 2028.
Councillor Mahmood added:
These improvements to the junction are much needed and it’s fantastic that we’ve secured the Government funded to be able to bring this project forward.
We will keep our residents and businesses updated throughout the works, using the dedicated webpage and the Council’s social media channels.
The active travel scheme, covering the likes of walking, wheeling and cycling routes, aims to make it easier and safer for people to get around without a car.
The planned improvements include:
- New and expanded cycleways
- Wider, safer pavements
- New crossing points
- Streetlighting in currently unlit areas to improve safety
For the latest updates on both schemes, please visit: www.blackburn.gov.uk/SEBlackburn or follow Blackburn with Darwen Council on Facebook and Instagram.