Relief: Plans for the East-West link road are advancing steadily, with a planning application expected by May.
The Lincolnshire County Council is working towards a planning application in May this year for the East-West link road in Lincoln (see larger image).
The scheme, which would relief traffic across the city and increase the High Street pedestrian area, received positive feedback after a public consultation in July 2010.
The Lincoln East to West Link Road would transform the section of the High Street near the busy crossing into a pedestrian-only zone, with traffic in the area re-routed.
Under the plans, Tentercroft Street would be extended to Cross Street so traffic can move around the crossing, instead of causing high volume deadlocks during the day.
Phase 1 of the project has two distinct elements, the new road and the pedestrianisation of the High Street.
The council estimated he the phase 1 cost of land assembly and road construction for the East-West link road is £20 million.
The estimated cost for the medium quality pedestrianisation scheme for the High Street (excluding a footbridge over the railway) is £2m.
A County Council report said the results of the July consultation have been very supportive with 2,000 responses to the questionnaire.
The report claims 88% support the need for the road, 79% support the route of the road and 79% support the pedestrianisation of the High Street.
With a planning application in preparation for May, the County Council still has to solve the problem of the High Street level crossing.
Network Rail support the new road and also the pedestrianisation of the High Street but have concerns regarding the final form of the level crossing.
Their “strong preference” is for it to be permanently closed and replaced by a high quality sky-bridge, incorporating escalators and lifts.
Network Rail is also said to plan to keep the level crossing barriers down in the city centre up to 40 minutes per hour (currently around 20 minutes per hour).
The County Council said it is undertaking a study with Network Rail and the City Of Lincoln Council to see what viable options are available.
It is expected the study over the High Street sky bridge feasibility will be completed by March 2011, a Lincolnshire County Council spokesperson told The Lincolnite.
The plans also include widening Tentercroft Street, which could lead to a few businesses having to be moved out of their current residences.
Lincolnshire County Council said it would support moving these businesses into newly built business accommodation at the Old Coal Yard.
English Heritage expressed concern regarding the loss of the properties on the south-east corner of Tentercroft Street and the High Street.
County Council officers met with English Heritage to look at possible alternatives, but they concluded that there are no viable alternatives.
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