After the Great War one of the biggest changes to traffic in the area was the advent of motor vehicles. Prior to the war they had been a rarity but soon became more common, particularly with the sale of ex-War Department motor lorries. Local industry was quick to take up this opportunity, particularly the quarries and pressure on the local roads rapidly increased.
It became obvious that what was needed was a direct route from the town centre to the main Earby to Colne road at Kelbrook. On the 2nd of September 1922 the first sod was cut and the road eventually opened on the 25th October 1934. I have been told that one of the purposes of the government scheme to finance the road was to provide work for the unemployed and I know of one man, George Dillon, who migrated from London to the job and never left. When the road was finished he ended up working at West Marton Dairies for many years and lived with his wife in Salterforth.
The building of the road entailed two bridges, one over the canal and one over the railway line near Kelbrook. It was an immediate success. The quarries on Salterforth Drag no longer had to climb the steep slope to Higher Lane, it was easier to go down onto the 'New Road' and up the far gentler incline to Barlick. Communications between Earby and Kelbrook and Barlick were direct and much more efficient. It became even more useful when the railway was closed in the late 1950s. It took pressure off Higher Lane, there was now a much more direct route to Colne. It's worth remembering that the road from Kelbrook to Foulridge via New Hague had also been opened up, a much easier route than Skipton Old Road on the hillside.
In 1957/58 a new road was made from Coates to Gill Brow cutting out the tortuous route via Greenberfield Locks. This was extended into Thornton village in 1964/65.
Another improvement in the 1960s followed the closure of the railway. The large goods siding below Wellhouse Road was redundant so the opportunity was taken to drive a completely new road from Forester's Buildings to connect with the end of Fernbank Avenue, the continuation of which was of course the New Road to Kelbrook. Two cottages were lost from the end of Forester's Buildings but apart from that there was minimal alteration to the town.
So, by the end of the 1960s we had a far more rational and efficient road system. 'Manchester Road' was no longer the direct route to Lancashire but is still busy as Higher Lane is the most direct way to Barrowford and Nelson. The wonder of it is that it took so long to make the connection to Kelbrook. Very few things can be said to be a benefit from the Great War and the Depression that followed but I think we can agree that there was at least one silver lining in the cloud!
The diversion at Forester's Buildings. The two end cottages were lost.
was in the same form as me, 1965 -70.