April 26, 2019 10.26 am This story is over 59 months old

Audi caught making pavement dash to avoid road block

See the video inside the story
This car was spotted driving along the pavement on Broadway in Lincoln to get around roadworks barriers. Photo: Graham Winter

An Audi driver who took an audacious shortcut to avoid a city centre road closure was, unluckily for them, caught in the act by a gobsmacked bystander and given the social media treatment.

To the frustration of the cameraman and uphill resident, the driver wasn’t the only one to take the risk and disregard the road block. The road block is in place as part of the Longdales Road improvements.

According to Graham Winter, who lives in the nearby Broadway area of Lincoln, a blockage was put out on his road first thing in the morning on Tuesday, April 23.

Graham uploaded a video to Twitter showing an Audi car driving along the pavement. He tagged City of Lincoln Council saying “so much for closing the road as this is what one in four vehicles are doing”. The city council then asked the county council’s highways team, responsible for road closures, if it could advise on the issue.

Lincolnshire County Council said it will put up a “more substantial barrier” on Monday, April 29 to help combat the issue and preventing rat-running.

Graham has also seen various van drivers driving over pavements to go around this blockade.

He told The Lincolnite: “There have been lots of issues. At each end Broadway is closed with no through traffic. Ever since the barriers were put up I have seen lots of people driving straight through it.

“On Tuesday night people physically moved the blockage and then drove through it. More barriers and cones were put up later in the week, but that hasn’t stopped people.

“I uploaded the video because of the fact people are ignoring road signs. I consider it as a road traffic offence. Signs are put there for a reason.”

When asked what he believes the solution to the problem should be, Graham added: “People should obey the road signs or suffer the consequences.

“Barriers could maybe be made more substantial so they can’t be moved by hand. Surely there should be consequences from police or highways.”

A highways spokesperson at Lincolnshire County Council said: “We’re aware that some drivers have been bypassing the barriers on Broadway, which are in place as part of our Longdales Road improvements.

“As a result, when they are put back up next Monday morning after rush hour, we’ll be using a more substantial barrier that will prevent vehicles from passing through or around them.

“We’re aware that this closure will cause some disruption, but it is essential for preventing rat-running and ensuring the safety of people living on Broadway.”