A17 Cross Keys Swing Bridge works: The end is in sight
Just one week to go on the long project
The A17 Cross Keys Swing Bridge at Sutton. | Photo: LCC
The programme of extensive essential works at Cross Keys Swing Bridge is coming to an end – with just a week to go and then it’s done.
After nearly five months of hard work on one of the county’s most famous landmarks, the critical refurbishment of the Cross Keys Swing Bridge at Sutton on the A17 is coming to an end.
The final part of the programme of works will end as scheduled with crews finishing on site overnight on July 1.
For the final stretch of the on-site works the crews will be working on the road itself, carrying out essential remedial works on the surface.
As this is coming to an end, we will then remove the traffic management currently in place with this last part of the job taking place on July 1.
Because of the amount of time the surfacing works will take, removal of temporary traffic lights will happen through the night with the road due to be open to all traffic on Saturday July 2.
It is key for people travelling from Lincolnshire to Norfolk.
Since the end of February, the works have been ongoing to repaint and repair the swing bridge. It’s been nearly two decades since the bridge was last painted and during that time a combination of tidal salt water and high volumes of traffic had seen the existing paint deteriorate.
Because of that this painting and refurb programme was put in place to continue protection of the structure’s steelwork.
Throughout the works, the bridge itself had to remain operational for shipping movements with the river Nene continuing to operate as a major route for waterborne transport.
During the life of the scheme, there were some unavoidable overnight road closures when particularly difficult areas of the bridge were being painted – such as the ends of the bridge itself – and on public holidays all traffic management around the works were removed to reduce the amount of disruption for road users at key times.
Cllr Richard Davies
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “These essential works have been carried out to the highest level with an extremely skilled crew who were tasked with ensuring the future of this very important part of our roads network.
“What we have carried out is a series of complex programmes of work that were crucial for the continued life and usefulness of the bridge.
“We have been working extremely hard across the project to ensure that the bridge and the roads around it are able to continue delivery of complex traffic needs. We have also liaised with other authorities to ensure that the work we carried out was not impacted further by works in their areas.
“This has been a huge project and we appreciate that disruption was faced by road users at peak times. We did everything possible for this to be minimalized, but there was still inevitable impact on those wishing to cross the bridge instead of using the diversionary route in place.
“We have managed to get the project completed on schedule and ahead of the summer holidays so the area around the Cross Keys Swing Bridge will be able to go about its business as normal in plenty of time to make the most of a very popular time of year along the A17.
“I would like to thank the local residents, businesses and road users for their continued patience throughout the past few months whilst this vital work has been carried out.”
For all update on roadworks in Lincolnshire visit: www.roadworks.org
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Work by our Lincoln Neighbourhood Policing Teams to combat theft in the city has had another boost following the charge of a further two individuals.
Adam Golightly, 43, of Allandale View, Lincoln, was arrested following a proactive shop theft operation in the city centre last week. He has been charged with seven counts of theft and two bike thefts.
All of the shop thefts are reported to have taken place at Co-op stores in the city centre area and Carholme Road between June and last week. Items stolen included meat and cleaning products to the value of £424. The bike thefts also happened during that period. One of the bikes stolen was valued at £360, the other was an unknown value.
Following a hearing at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 12 August where he entered a not guilty plea, he has been given conditional bail and will appear at the court for trial on 22 September. His bail condition is not to enter any Coop store in Lincolnshire.
In a separate case, Carl Atkin, 37, of Friar’s Lane, Lincoln, was charged on 11 August with five bike thefts which took place at different times and locations across the city. On 12 August at a hearing at Lincoln Magistrate’s Court, he was given a 10 week sentence, suspended for 12 months.
We want to identify the person pictured after a vehicle was stolen from a bowls club in Lincoln.
A man was seen trying car door handles in the car park at the Lincoln Indoor Bowls Club, at Hall Drive, on Saturday, 13 July.
The club is a secure building and only members have access to it.
The man has tailgated another member into the club to gain access and then pretended to fit in by wearing suitable attire, waving to members, and getting a drink at the bar.
He has then gone into the changing rooms and located a set of car keys before stealing a red TOYOTA YARIS which was displaying the VRM AK08GBY.
The man is then believed to have committed a theft from The Spar, Newark Road in Lincoln immediately after taking the car.
We want to speak to the person pictured as we believe they may be able to help us in our investigations.
If you know them, or you have any further information that will help with our enquiries please get in touch.
Please email [email protected] quoting ‘Incident 448 of 13 August’ in the subject line.
Or call 101 quoting Incident 448 of 13 August.
If you wish to remain anonymous you can report any information via CrimeStoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
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