August 31, 2018 10.42 am This story is over 67 months old

Revealed: Dual carriageway North Hykeham Relief Road plan

Lincolnshire County Council has decided to pursue plans for a dual carriageway

Initial plans for a new dual carriageway joining the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass, creating a complete ring road around the city, have been announced by Lincolnshire County Council.

Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “As part our initial research for the outline business case we’re preparing, we’ve identified that a dual carriageway road is the best way forward for the North Hykeham Relief Road.

“Compared to the single carriageway options, a dual carriageway road would provide more traffic relief for road users as the number of vehicles traveling in and around the area continues to increase over the next 10 to 20 years.

“Dual carriageway isn’t just the council’s preferred option. We recently held a series of public engagement events about the project, and 75% of people that completed surveys said they support dual carriageway over single.

“So a dualled road is what we will be pushing for as we pursue the Government funding needed to get it built.”

Lincolnshire County Councillor Richard Davies. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Over 1,000 people completed the engagement survey promoted by the council in June, with 89% supporting the scheme and 87% preferring a stretch of road that connects the western bypass to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass.

When built, the North Hykeham Relief Road is expected to cost £148.5m if built as dual carriageway and between £100m and £117m if built as single.

The proposal for finalising an outline business case based on a dual carriageway North Hykeham Relief Road will be discussed at a meeting of the county council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee on Monday, September 10, with final approval to be given by executive councillors in early October.

A visual impression of the North Hykeham Relief Road: LCC

Councillor Davies added: “By forming the final section of a complete ring road around the city, not only will it will help further reduce traffic congestion in and around Lincoln, North Hykeham and surrounding villages, but it will also help us meet growth targets for the area that include approximately 36,960 new dwellings and 11,894 new jobs up to 2036.

“In addition to pushing for the North Hykeham Relief Road to be built as dual carriageway, it also remains the council’s long-term aspiration to make the Lincoln Eastern Bypass, which is currently under construction, dualled.”

Further information about LCC’s highways projects can be found on the website here.