Council offers explanation behind 50-mile A17 diversion after …
The county council has explained why it will be implementing a 50-mile diversion route for drivers to offset around four miles of roadworks. 10 weeks of repairs to the A17[1] are scheduled to begin on April 10, between Holdingham Roundabout in Sleaford[2] and the hamlet of Byards Leap, which is just under five miles away.
A diversion route has been put in place, though frustrated residents in nearby villages have been left baffled[3] as to why it will take drivers out of the county towards Newark, north around Lincoln[4], and then back down the A15. According to a spokesperson for Lincolnshire County Council[5], the authority has to base alternative routes on ‘like-for-like’ roads, meaning an A-road has to be substituted for an A-road.
They said: “When planning diversion routes for our works, we can only direct people along like-for-like roads. So, because the A17 will be closed, we can only point road users to other A-roads.”
They added that this should prevent large vehicles, such as lorries, from damaging smaller roads or even potentially getting stuck and causing disruption to people living in the area. The roadworks are scheduled to be carried out between 7pm and 6am and will make up the final set of council repairs, following on from last year’s works of the A17 between Beckingham and Leadenham.
Proposed A17 diversion route (Image: LCC)
The council spokesperson acknowledged that the diversion and works could be an inconvenience. He said: “We realise this will be an inconvenience for those travelling in the evening and overnight, but we’ve planned these works in such a way so that there is no disruption to the A17 during the day, apart from a weekend at the end of the project, which would affect thousands more.”
Ahead of the works commencing, Cllr Richard Davies, the executive member for highways, said: “This section is also showing signs of deterioration, so we’re taking the opportunity now to fully rebuild it using nearly 15,000 tonnes of stone and tarmac.” He added: “We’ll be doing everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum throughout these major A17 improvements, including maintaining access for emergency services where it’s safe to do so and carrying the works out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“In the meantime, I want to thank everyone in advance for their patience.”
References
- ^ weeks of repairs to the A17 (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Sleaford (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ frustrated residents in nearby villages have been left baffled (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Lincoln (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Lincolnshire County Council (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ ‘Ridiculous’ – Village residents slam planned 50-mile diversion as roadworks planned by council (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)