October 1, 2020 5.21 pm This story is over 41 months old

Cars banned on Brayford Wharf East from this month

A car-free cycle link in Lincoln city centre
When works begin it will not be possible to turn into Brayford Wharf East from Rope Walk or St Mark's Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Drivers in Lincoln will face a year-long ban on Brayford Wharf East from later this month, in a bid to encourage cycling in the area.

The closure on Rope Walk, which will be implemented from Sunday, October 11, will mean that motorists will not be able to turn from St Mark’s Street or Rope Walk into Brayford Wharf East, but access will still be given to emergency vehicles.

The pop-up cycle lane is part of the Department for Transport’s emergency active travel fund.

The county council was granted £105,500 from the first round of the fund to support temporary projects during the recovery from the coronavirus crisis, although there is scope for them to become permanent.

The closure of Brayford Wharf East to through traffic will provide an almost traffic-free link for cyclists to the university. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “In Horncastle, the north side of the Market Place has been pedestrianised to allow more space for social distancing and allow the local businesses to use the area for outdoor seating.

“In Lincoln, the closure of Brayford Wharf East to through traffic will provide an almost traffic-free link for cyclists to the university, the city centre and the River Witham path. Then, on Wigford Way, a lane closure in each direction will provide a link to the bus and train stations.

“These measures are initially temporary for a year, but we’ll be keeping an eye on how well used they are, and they could be made permanent.

“We’ve also invested in new cycling storage that’ll be installed soon in Boston, Gainsborough, Grantham, Holbeach, Skegness, Sleaford and Spalding, and we’re continuing to look at options for Grantham town centre.

“The emergency active travel fund is just a part of our grand plans for cycling infrastructure in Lincolnshire.

“When it comes to upgrading our cycling infrastructure, having a coordinated approach that allows cyclists to reach more destinations will have the biggest impact on increasing the rate of cycling and take traffic off our roads.”

The closure is designed to capitalise on the increase in cycling. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The second round of funding is worth over £800,000 for Lincolnshire. The council submitted a bid in August and is waiting to hear back from the Department for Transport.