The A671 is a road in the North West of England, that runs between Oldham, Greater Manchester and Worston, near Clitheroe, Lancashire. Major towns on the route include Rochdale and Burnley. The road is approximately 35 miles (56 km) long. Between Burnley and the A59, the A671 has primary status.
 | |
|---|---|
 A671 from Burnley to Bacup | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 35 mi (56 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| South end | Oldham 53°32′18″N 2°06′58″W / 53.5384°N 2.1162°W |
| North end | Worston 53°52′35″N 2°21′35″W / 53.8763°N 2.3596°W |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Primary destinations | Rochdale Burnley |
| Road network | |
The section of road between Burnley and Whalley has been identified as one of the UK's ten most dangerous roads, with 48 serious or fatal collisions between 2000 and 2005.[1]
Route
editThe southern end of the road, formerly part of the A627,[2] was the main route from Oldham to Rochdale until it was bypassed by the A627(M) motorway in 1972.
Between Rochdale and Bacup, the road passes through the small town of Whitworth. The 3-mile (4.8 km) section through the town is called Market Street, and has several speed cameras as well as being the scene of a number of accidents.[3]
The road passes through the centre of Bacup, where it crosses the A681. It then processes through Broadclough and Weir before going over Deerplay Moor. It later crosses the A646 before reaching Burnley. North of Burnley the A671 is a primary road. There is a junction with the M65 motorway (junction 10) before the road passes through Padiham, a small town within the borough of Burnley. The A671 forms the main street through the town.[4] Beyond Padiham is a stretch of the road known as the Devils Elbow, near the village of Read.[5] Further to the north-west there is the junction with the A680.
The road then bypasses Whalley, and ends at a roundabout, joining the A59 near Barrow. 2 miles (3.2 km) further north-east, the road leaves the A59. This section of the A671 is non-primary and forms a loop through the town of Clitheroe, which is bypassed by the A59 to the south and east of the town. It heads to the north through Clitheroe, and heads east as it leaves the town, terminating at another junction with the A59 again near Worston.
Bypass Proposals
editThere have been a large number of road traffic incidents on the A671 as it passes through the small hamlets of Broadclough and Weir near Bacup including fatalities. Currently police are monitoring the road[6] and there have been calls from local residents, led by County Councillor Jimmy Easton,[7] for the creation of a bypass with the suggestion of utilising elements of the old highway Bacup Old Road.
References
edit- ^ "Britain's most dangerous roads". BBC News. 25 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
- ^ "New Popular Edition Maps". Archived from the original on 14 March 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
- ^ "Crisis talks over 'danger' road". Lancashire Telegraph. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Padiham Case Study". Clitheroe the Future. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
- ^ "News: Works on A671 Whalley Road, Read". Lancashire County Council. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
- ^ "Police Monitoring Bacup Weir Accident Blackspot". The Bolton News. The Bolton News.
- ^ "UPDATED: Man fighting for life after Bacup crash". Bolton News.