Work to create access to a new multi-million-pound business park will continue on schedule, with a solution found to avoid a complete closure of a 1.5km stretch of the A1173.
A new roundabout is due to be constructed between the A180 and the existing Catch roundabout, and initial plans involved the closure of this section of the carriageway.
Following extensive talks with local hauliers and businesses, who had expressed concern about the lengthy diversion that would have come with the full closure, an alternative way of delivering these works has been agreed. This means this next phase of the project will start as soon as current improvements taking place at the Catch roundabout are complete.
The new roundabout will provide access to phase one of the new Stallingborough Business Park. Whilst these works are ongoing, an anti-clockwise one-way system will operate with the single flow from the A180 towards Kiln Lane, and a diversion taking in Kings Road, Manby Road and the A160 will then guide traffic back onto the A180 at the Brocklesby Interchange.
These arrangements, which are scheduled to be in place from May until October, have been settled on after a thorough look into traffic movements in the area at peak times of the day, which revealed that only 24 per cent of the HGV traffic was moving eastbound.
Announcing the new measures, North East Lincolnshire Council’s head of Environment and Transport, Cllr Stewart Swinburn said: “There is no doubt of the importance of the project we are embarking upon, which, when complete, is set to transform the industrial landscape of North East Lincolnshire.
“However, in doing so we wish to work with existing partners and businesses to ensure we find the most effective way possible to achieve our aims whilst causing the least disruption. Everyone appreciates that most highway improvement works don’t come without an element of disruption and delay that may affect us all, particularly at peak times, but we have tried to engage with the relevant people to come up with an alternative solution to the A1173 full closure.”
Cllr John Fenty, Cabinet member for regeneration, said: “These works are vital for the on-going regeneration of the area, helping to improve the highway network and create a safer place in which everyone can live and work together. There’s a lot of regeneration going on in the borough which is great news for the future, but sometimes, this means that we have some temporary road issues while all this work is taking place.
“The vast majority of road users understand the need for us to improve our highway networks in this way and we hope that you see how such work will only enhance North East Lincolnshire, complementing the strides we are making in our area to transform our economic, business and visitor landscape.”
As reported, the new roundabout and associated highways work are part-funded by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), supported with £1.6m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund. This was secured by the Humber LEP and is part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.
Both the roundabout and park projects are part of SHIIP, the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme, which has a target of creating more than 3,000 jobs by attracting a variety of new industry, with a focus upon advanced engineering and renewable energy. Early interest is strong.
As stated above, work is already underway on the A1173, with traffic management in place to allow for widening and improvement work on the lanes that meet the existing ‘Catch’ roundabout. The one-way system will come into place as soon as that work is complete, which is expected to be in May, with the total highway project set to be finished in November. New foot and cycle ways, along with street lighting and utilities to the site will also be installed.
Article from NELC.
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