Blackburn Road junction site of 3 crashes in 4 days

Over four days, three smashes have been recorded on Blackburn Road near the junctions of Crompton Way and Moss Bank Way in Astley Bridge.

The crashes are just the latest at the junction where roadworks are taking place.

The most recent accident took place today, with one blocking the junction yesterday evening and a crash on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services were called just after 10.40am today.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "At 10.43am this morning (9 November), police were called to a report of a collision involving two vehicles on Blackburn Road.

"No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made."

The road was shut to recover the vehicles.

Yesterday evening, there were reports of another road traffic collision at the same part of the junction just after 9PM.

Manc Traffic reported that the crash led to the road being partially blocked after a multi-vehicle collision with a lampost damaged in the roadworks.

Road traffic collision on Tuesday (Image: Marcus Jackson)

The organisation which monitors traffic added: "The sheer number of bumps here is staggering whilst these works have been on."

Cllr Hilary Fairclough said: "The accidents are worrying, and I know that often in these things they are driver errors however they are caused by the fact that people can’t see the lights properly in the way they are facing, and this is unacceptable.

“It is obvious to anyone who drives through that junction that these lights are temporary, but they should be doing something about it.

“TFGM monitor that junction 24/7 and so they will have seen every accident, they will have seen all the additional interruption from the queues and queues of people trying to get through and so they should be acting in my opinion immediately to try and alleviate the problems that we are having.

“The roadworks have run over, there are always excuses as to why this is the case, but from my point of view, they are excuses because I was promised some weeks ago that they would finish the initial work in early October.

“They have completely run over the time that was allocated and I will be honest with you I feel now that we have just been given excuse after excuse after excuse.

“I know that there are often difficulties, but I just feel it has gone on far too long and it is unacceptable at the moment.

“Residents have been frustrated and I understand where they come from, I travel on that road and I have been caught up in the 45-minute trips, so I know how frustrating this is.

“We have businesses on that junction, and we know how businesses are struggling these days and they have been marooned and have been cut off for some time.

“Pedestrians feel like they are taking their life in their hands crossing.

“I think that the consideration given to those using that junction which is probably 100,000 people daily has been shocking.

“The signage has been poor; the lights are constantly going out and there should be something or someone there to make sure traffic is flowing.

“There are a huge number of issues that I feel could have and should have been dealt with and I absolutely understand how people feel.”

Residents in the area have again been expressing their concerns saying 'does someone have to die before something is done?' whilst others are creating polls asking residents their opinions on the junction being scrapped and a roundabout being put in place.

The poll put on a Facebook group asks residents if works should just start again and install/build a roundabout at the Asda junction.

124 people voted with 63 per cent voting for it and 26 per cent voting for people to use common sense and drive responsibly in the area.

Chesca Cristina Marone was driving in the area when the accident happened, she said she feels 'completely fine' driving in the area because she is a sensible driver but others on the road make her feel anxious.

However, one motorist said they already avoid the area.

They said: "I avoid the area now, I used to go to The Valley quite a lot and walking in Belmont.

"The congestion and the amount of accidents taking place is worrying, I know some of the accidents are due to impatience, but that junction isn't the easiest at the best of times, so I really hope the work taking place makes a difference."

The work in the area were supposed to finish at the end of October. The works are altering the junction arrangement with a dedicated left turn lane from Moss Bank Way onto Blackburn Road.

The aim of the scheme is to reduce congestion and improve safety at the junction and provide better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

The scheme value is £1.0m and is funded by the GM Growth Deal Fund.