George Osborne delivering the Autumn Statement to Parliament | Photo: HM Treasury
Chancellor George Osbourne announced in his autumn statement the Lincoln Eastern Bypass is one of 35 infrastructure projects around the country to receive funding.
A ‘best and final’ bid for £50m towards the expected £98m cost of the bypass was submitted by the County Council to the Department for Transport in September.
Lincolnshire County Council is making a contribution of £14m and is acting as ‘guarantor’ to underwrite the £34m third party funded element.
The single-carriageway Lincoln Eastern Bypass was identified as the best solution to improve traffic flow in the city with wider economic benefits to the area.
It will take around two years to build and will start from the A158 Wragby Road in the north, crossing over the River Witham on a new bridge and continuing south to end at the A15 Sleaford Road, east of Bracebridge Heath and have junctions with Greetwell Road, B11990 Washingborough and B1188 to Branston.
Executive Member for Highways and Transportation, Councillor William Webb, said: “We have been working towards this for almost 20 years and it’s wonderful that we can start taking the final steps needed to make the bypass a reality.
“The announcement means that we have the additional £50m that is needed and that we have ‘conditional approval’ for the bypass.
“We look forward to seeing the full details, so we can start carrying out the additional work required to fulfil these conditions and understand the government’s funding timescale.
“It is possible that construction could start as soon as 2014,” Webb said.
Conservative Lincoln MP Karl McCartney said: “Today is a great day for the people of Lincoln and Lincolnshire.
“I am convinced that this much-needed new road will offer an improved experience of Lincoln for visitors, businesses and residents alike – and I firmly believe it will prove to be a catalyst for the economic well-being and growth of Lincoln and Lincolnshire.”
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Protesters appealed to Lincoln councillors from across all parties to join them in a minute’s silence to honour the victims of the Israel-Hamas war, but none participated.
Organised by members of the Lincoln Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (Lincoln TUSC) and Lincoln Friends of Palestine, the vigil took place outside the Guildhall during Tuesday’s full council meeting, where attendees called on local representatives to take a moment out of their busy agenda to join them in solidarity.
A new driver who caused the deaths of two teenage friends just 28 days after passing her test was spared jail after a judge heard moving pleas from her victims’ families.
Lara Jensen, 20, from Grimsby, was taking a group of young friends to watch the sunset before they all went off to university when she misjudged a triangular junction and crossed in front of an oncoming car.
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