POLICE are warning motorists of diversions and possible major delays between now and Christmas during extensive roadworks on the A56 Haslingden by-pass.

Work on the dual carriageway, which links the M65 with the M66, begins on Monday at 9.30am and is expected to last about five weeks.

The roadworks will be centred near to the Bent Gate roundabout, also known as Woolpack Island.

Affected roads could be hit by severe congestion, but northbound Burnley or M65 Traffic will not be affected at all.

The work involves bridgework and resurfacing of adjacent carriageways.

A diversion and limited closure scheme will operate while it goes ahead.

Beginning at 9.30am on Monday and each weekday until about December 23, there will be a complete closure of the southbound entry slip-road at Bent Gate roundabout.

Access to the A56/M66 southbound will be via Rising Bridge/Grane Road, Haslingden/junction 1 M66 via Edenfield, or via Queens Square, Rawtenstall (A682).

During weekdays, one southbound carriageway will be kept open along the A56.

Additional weekend work will result in a complete closure of both southbound carriageways on the A56 at Bent Gate.

Traffic travelling southbound from the Burnley/M65 direction will have to leave the A56 at the Haslingden (south) slip road, and be redirected onto the A56 via the A681 Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, Queens Square and the A682 Edenfield by-pass.

This diversion will operate from 8pm on Friday Nov 17, Nov 24, December 1, 8 and 15 until 6am each following Monday.

There will still be no access to the A56 southbound at Bent Gate roundabout during the weekend working.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.