HIGHWAYS bosses are confident that the new M65 extension will open before the end of this year.

M-way contractors are pinning their hopes on decent weather to allow them to finish the multi-million pound link between the M65 and the M6.

Council chiefs in Blackburn had been told that the new motorway would not open until the turn of the year. But John Sherwoods, M65 project manager for the Highways Agency, said: "The success of delivery of the project is very much dependent on the weather during the next few weeks.

"On section two (Whitebirk to Feniscowles), what might have been a serious delay to the opening of the whole of the M65 has hopefully been avoided by a particularly high level of work by the contractor during 1997.

"This means that necessary safety audit work and commissioning of telephones and signals can be progressed earlier, with a view to opening the whole of the M65 before Christmas 1997."

Another spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "I would not put money on it being delayed until the new year.

"There seems to have been an impression given that the motorway will not open until next year.

"But if the weather is kind, then it is still likely to open before the year is out."

The M65 extension is split into two sections and work is now complete on the stretch between Stanworth and the M6.

The whole scheme was originally due to be completed in August, but the it was postponed until the autumn.

The road, which will connect East Lancashire to the national motorway network, has cost £150 million and taken three years to complete.

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