Three weeks of bypass road closures from next month

Drivers on two busy Lincoln roads will face weeks of disruption from next month as part of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass project.

A three-week long 24-hour closure of Hawthorn Road will start on Monday, June 24 to allow for a utilities diversion along the road.

The diversion route for the closure will be via Wragby Road/Outer Circle Road/Greetwell Road/Church Lane, and vice versa.

In addition, a list of twelve weekend-long road closures will take place on Lincoln Road from June 21.

They will be in place from Friday at 7pm until Monday at 6am on the following dates:

• June 21-24
• June 28 – July 1
• July 5-8
• July 12-15
• July 19-22
• July 26-29
• August 2-5
• August 9-12
• August 16-19
• August 30 to September 2
• September 6-9
• September 13-16

These closures will allow contractors to carry out earthworks, kerbing, street lighting and other essential construction works along the road ahead of starting construction of the new bypass roundabout.

The diversion route for the closures will be via South Park Avenue and South Park/St Catherines/A15/B1178/B1188, and vice versa.

The county council previously said the scheme is still on schedule to be opened next spring. It was previously delayed from December 2019 to May 2020 due to Carillion’s collapse. It is also expected to be £21 million over budget, totalling £120 million (the original cost estimate for a dual carriageway road).

Executive member for highways, Councillor Richard Davies, said: “By the end of these twelve weekend closures on Lincoln Road, the new Lincoln Road roundabout will be 90% finished, with tie-ins to the current road complete.

“The team will also be installing kerbs, street lights and other essential works part of building a new roundabout.

“Over at Hawthorn Road, in addition to carrying on building the new footbridge, there are also some essential utility diversions that need to be carried out by Triio Gas and Western Power.

“Because these run along and across the carriageway, we need to close the road so these diversions can be safely carried out.

“I know these closures aren’t ideal, but we’ll be doing everything we can to minimise disruption, including keeping Lincoln Road open over August bank holiday weekend, maintaining pedestrian access along both roads and doing our best to finish both jobs up ahead of schedule.

“In the meantime, we ask everyone regularly using these two roads to remain patient and follow the signed diversions that are in place.

“Elsewhere across the site, work is progressing really well and we’re still on track for having the bypass open next spring.”

The 7.5km Lincoln Eastern Bypass project is part-funded by a £50m Central Government capital grant.