A series of improvements – including a new roundabout, carriageway widening, barriers and lower speed limits – have been introduced to make the A18 safer for road users.
The highway is set to officially reopen tomorrow, Saturday 18 December, following a final inspection today, Friday 17 December.
The work followed an independent safety review held in 2016, which made several recommendations to make the highway safer. An inquest into the tragic deaths of five members of the Cockburn family, who died in a crash on the A18 in 2013, highlighted safety concerns on this stretch of road.
In 2018, the North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) and EQUANS regeneration partnership secured £2.8m joint funding with Lincolnshire County Council from the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund. Works began in January 2020.
There were four phases to the works:
Phase one of the works began in January 2020 and focused on the road between the A18/A46 junction and Laceby Manor Golf Club. The carriageway was widened, while right-turn lanes were introduced at both Oaklands Hotel and Laceby Manor Golf Club. In addition, vehicle safety barriers were installed together with carriageway resurfacing and lining.
Phase two saw carriageway resurfacing work to a section of the A18 known as Waterdell between the Waltham Road and Ashby Hill junction.
Phase three involved the installation of a right-turn lane to Utterby from Barton Street, within Lincolnshire County Council’s boundary at the Barton Street and Lincoln Gate junction.
Phase four began in September 2021 with the construction of a roundabout on the A18 Waltham Road junction, which has replaced the previous T junction. These works are now complete.
Additional safety measures have also been introduced as follows:
- A speed limit reduction to 40mph on both carriageways of the A18 Barton Street as motorists approach the new roundabout
- At the same time, to bring into force a reduction in the speed limit into Barnoldby le Beck village from the A18, from 50mph to 40mph
- The speed limit will extend along the A18 south of the new roundabout, to include a series of bends at Waterdell (this would make the current advisory 40mph limit mandatory)
Today, councillors, NELC officers, EQUANS staff and other representatives saw the improvements firsthand during a site visit at Barnoldby le Beck.
Councillor Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “It is a pleasure to see the completed works, from the new roundabout to the series of vital safety measures that have been introduced. It brings home how vital these improvements are – nothing can be more important than the safety of our residents, motorists and other road users.
“I appreciate the inconvenience this has caused local residents and road users, but I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding since the works began, and I hope this means residents and road users will feel safer using this route.”
Following the reopening of the road, you may continue to see activity on site in January as the landscaping is completed, and in the spring, when coloured high friction surfacing is laid.
The project was overseen and managed by the council and EQUANS, with engineers from contractor CR Reynolds carrying out the work.
Keep up to date with roadworks across the area at www.nelincs.gov.uk/roadworks
Share this article