TRAFFIC misery on the Grane Road from Haslingden to Blackburn is set to continue for another week.

After disruption caused by United Utilities at the end of last month, National Grid is now replacing a gas main outside Grane Lodge.

Local county councillor David Stansfield hopes when the lengthy excavation stretching from the Duke of Wellington pub towards Heap Clough is filled in, the road chaos will be over for the next year.

For a month, the various works have created rush-hour traffic jams, which in the evening stretch back to Belthorn village from the M65 junction 5 at Guide.

It has also caused delays for morning and evening traffic coming off the A56 from Rossendale and the M66 from Manchester.

In the last two weeks of October, United Utilities came back to repair a damaged water pipe near the Duke of Wellington pub.

When they finished on schedule at the end of last month, National Grid took over the hole to replace an old metal gas main.

This work is due to be finished on Friday.

A spokeswoman for National Grid said: “We took the opportunity to use the excavation already in place to replace an old gas main.

“They are changing an old metal one for a new plastic pipe expected to last for 80 years.

“We appreciate that this work, expected to be completed within a week or so, will cause disruption for motorists for longer.

“But it demonstrates that public utility companies do work together to minimise road works.

“It is important to maintains secure and safe supplies of gas, electricity and water to homes and business in East Lancashire.

“But as we ensure that, unfortunately, this from time to time causes problems for motorists.”

Rossendale West’s Cllr Stansfield said: “This work has been causing chaos on the Grane Road and on surrounding roads.

“I am glad that National Grid are using the existing hole rather than waiting and digging another one.

“I just hope after this the Grane Road will remain intact and free-flowing for at least 12 months.”

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: “We work closely with utility companies to coordinate work as far as possible.

“We’re glad this has been the case with the current works on Grane Road.”