Major improvements to the Newland area of Lincoln are now underway

_{Please keep checking the bottom of this article for updates as we receive them}

Works to improve the area’s road surfacing, drainage, footways and traffic signals have now started

Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “Works are now officially underway for our improvements to Newland and the surrounding area of Lincoln.

“From now, the team will be on-site until this winter working to improve the area’s infrastructure for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and everyone else that passes through.

“Not only will we be digging up the existing road surfacing ahead of laying new, but we’ll also be improving the drainage to help reduce surface water when it rains and replacing two of Lincoln’s most used sets of traffic signals.

“All of the infrastructure we’re replacing is starting to deteriorate, so we’re taking the opportunity to improve it all now before it can get any worse. This will also mean less disruption for Lincoln in the future.”

Below is an overview the traffic management planned for throughout the project:

A 24/7 westbound closure of Newland will be used as needed throughout the project, between Wigford Way and The Avenue, for footway, kerbing, drainage and signal works
The main diversion route for the westbound closure will be via East West Link, Tentercroft Street, Rope Walk and Brayford Way
Vehicles will still be able to travel eastbound along Newland; however, temporary traffic signals will be used as needed
Vehicles will be able to access Lucy Tower Street and the car park by travelling eastbound along Newland
To minimise disruption to the travelling public and to allow safe working space for the site team, road surfacing works will be carried out at night, between 7pm and 6am (weekday evenings), under a full road closure
Advance Road Closure warning signs will be erected on-site two weeks prior to the start of any of road closures

Cllr Davies added: “Now that the works are underway, people will no doubt experience some disruption during their journeys into, out of and around Lincoln. This is inevitable when carrying out works of this scale, so we kindly ask everyone to bear with us for the next seven months as the disruption will be well worth it in the end.

“In the meantime, we encourage everyone to leave extra time for their journeys and to treat our workforce with respect.”

As part of the £2 million project, the following improvements are being carried out:

Full reconstruction of the carriageway along Newland, between Mint Street and Carholme Road junction – along with part of Wigford Way, Mint Lane and Lucy Tower Street
Replacing the traffic signals at the Lucy Tower Street/Newland junction and at the Carholme Road/Brayford Way junction
Replacing kerbs and footways that have started to deteriorate
Repair work to the county council’s highways drainage system

For more information about this and other major highways projects, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/majorprojects.

The Newland maintenance and refurbishment project will see the following improvements carried out in the heart of Lincoln:

rebuilding the carriageway along Newland, between Wigford Way and The Avenue – along with some of Wigford Way, Mint Lane and Lucy Tower Street
replacing kerbs and footways that have started to deteriorate
installing improved highways drainage
replacing two of Lincoln’s oldest sets of the traffic signals – at the Lucy Tower Street/Newland junction and at the Carholme Road/Brayford Way junction

Aims and benefits

Improved infrastructure for those traveling on foot
Smoother journeys for those travelling by car
New traffic lights with improved technology
Help alleviate standing water in the area

Cost and funding

The estimated cost is £2 million, with the scheme being fully funded by Lincolnshire County Council.

Timeline

July 2023: Preliminary surveys carried out
March 2024: Contractor appointed
April 2024: Works begin
Winter 2024/25*: Project complete

*All future dates are projected and subject to change dependent on external factors.

From the 29^thJuly until the 7^th August, Newland and Orchard Street will be closed to all vehicles from Lucy Tower Street to the Carholme Road junction overnight between 7pm - 6am.

This is due to continuing resurfacing works.

There will be pedestrian access to these areas at all times with clearly marked walkways where work is in progress.

With the scheme near completion on Newland, some additional works are set to be carried out along Carholme Road, from its junction with Brayford Way to Nelson Street.

These works will start w/c 29^th July and are expected to last for up to a month.

This additional section of works will be carried out under a combination of three weeks suspended parking bays and narrowed lanes, along with two weeks of night-time road closures.

The diversion route for the night closures will be via the A46 / Riseholme Road roundabout / Yarborough Crescent / The Avenue, and vice versa.

These works will include:

Carriageway resurfacing
Drainage improvement works
Kerbing
Footway works

There will be some initial disruption as people get used to the new set-up – but like before, we expect this to ease quite quickly. And as always, we’ll do our best to carry these works out as efficiently as possible with as little disruption as possible.

Night works will commence on Wigford Way Junction on the 24^th of July for 2 nights.

A full road closure will be in place from 7pm to 6am to complete carriageway surfacing, road markings and end product testing.

Pedestrian access will be maintained.

During the night works, 2-way vehicular access along Newland shall be maintained up to and including the Lucy Tower Street Junction. Vehicles wishing to access Lucy Tower Street and the car park will have to approach from the west along Newland. Vehicles exiting Lucy Tower Street will have to turn left and head eastbound along Newland.

There will be no access to the city centre via Wigford Way. Anybody wishing to access the city centre via Wigford Way will have to follow the sign posted diversion route.

Please see the image below with the full night time road closure shown in red hatching.

Nighttime works are set to commence on Lucy Tower Street from the 22^nd July to the 24^th July. From 7pm to 6am, Lucy Tower Street will be fully closed.

These works will include kerbing, carriageway surfacing and road markings.

Vehicles approaching from Carholme Road, travelling eastwards along Newland, will only have access up to the Orchard Street Junction.

There will be no vehicular access to Lucy Tower Street from Newland or the carpark from 7pm. Any vehicles departing from the Lucy Tower Street car park after this time will have to exit via Brayford Wharf.

Any vehicles wishing to access the hotels or businesses on Brayford Wharf will have to enter and exit Brayford Wharf from the Carholme Road/Brayford Way junction.

Traffic Management will be in place to help guide vehicles and pedestrians where needed.

What we achieved in June

Carried out carriageway reconstruction on Brayford Way / Carholme Road junction and Wigford Way
Started installation of traffic signals equipment on Brayford Way / Carholme Road junction
Reconstruction of central splitter islands on Brayford Way / Carholme Road junction
Started drainage repairs to county council-maintained surface water systems
Progressed drainage and footway improvements on the north-side of Newland

What’s happening in July

Carry out carriageway surfacing on Newland and Lucy Tower Street
Continue installation of traffic signals equipment on Brayford Way / Carholme Road junction
Install drainage channel blocks on the north-side of Newland
Begin traffic signal installation at Lucy Tower junction
Continue drainage repairs to county council surface water systems near Lucy Tower Street

Current/ongoing traffic restrictions and closures

24/7 westbound closure of Newland, between Wigford Way and The Avenue

- Diversion via East West Link, Tentercroft Street, Rope Walk and Brayford Way

- Vehicles can access Lucy Tower Street and the multi-storey car park by travelling eastbound along Newland

Upcoming traffic restrictions and closures

Night-time road closures from 7pm-6am for carriageway surfacing at following locations:
- w/c 8^th July – Newland and Orchard Street
- w/c 15^th July (Monday to Thursday only) – Tower Street
- w/c 29^th July – Newland and Orchard Street from Lucy Tower Street

Nighttime resurfacing works will commence on Lucy Tower Street on the 15^thJuly to the 18^th July 7pm-6am.

Vehicles approaching from the east from Carholme Road will have access up to and including the Orchard Street Junction, there will be no access to Lucy Tower Street.

There will be no vehicle access to Lucy Tower Carpark from 7pm and any Vehicles departing from the Lucy Tower Street car Park will have to exit via the Brayford Wharf.

Any vehicles travelling to or exiting from the hotels on Brayford Wharf will have to enter and exit via Brayford Wharf onto Carholme Road.

Delivery Vehicles needing to access the hotels or businesses on Brayford Wharf will be able to do so from the West, via Carholme Road and Brayford Wharf and exiting the same way.

Traffic Management will be in place to help guide vehicles and pedestrians where needed.

Attached is a map showing the Wharf access during the night works.

From the 8^th of July to the 12^th of July night works will be commencing on Newlands 7pm-6am.

This is to undertake resurfacing works to the carriageway.

Newlands shall remain open to traffic heading East via the west bound lane only

The Newlands Eastbound closure shall be from the Carholme Road/Newlands junction to the junction with Lucy Tower Street junction.

Night works, under a full road closure between 7pm and 6am, will commence on Wigford Way Junction from the 24.06.24 and last approximately 2 weeks.

The work being carried out under the full road closure include drainage and carriageway resurfacing.

During the night works, vehicular access along Newland will only be up to and including the Lucy Tower Street Junction. For vehicles wishing to access Lucy Tower Street, Lucy Tower Street Carpark and the Brayford, it is advised that they approach from the west via The Avenue/Carholme Road.

Vehicles exiting from Lucy Tower Street will be required to turn left at the junction and travel in a westbound direction, then diverted onto Orchard Street.

There will be no access to the city centre from Newland, Beaumont Fee or Wigford Way and a signed diversion route will be in place.

After 6am, vehicular access along Newland will be returned to an eastbound direction only.

Pedestrian access will be maintained during all the works with various signed pedestrian diversion routes in place.

Please see the image below of the upcoming closure.

Newland Highway Improvements June Update

What was achieved in May

Installed new kerbs and channels along the south-side of Newland
Completed drainage improvements along the south side of Newland
Footway reconstruction along the south-side of Newland
Started carriageway reconstruction on westbound lane of Newland
Reconstructed footway and crossing points of the north-side of Brayford Way / Carholme Road junction

What’s happening in June

Installation and commissioning of traffic signals equipment on Brayford Way / Carholme Road junction
Reconstruction of central splitter islands on Brayford Way / Carholme Road junction
Start the carriageway reconstruction on Brayford Way / Carholme Road junction
Island and footway reconstruction at the Lucy Tower Street junction
Switch to new working area on the north-side of Newland
Start drainage improvements on the north-side of Newland
Installation of new kerbs, channels, pedestrian crossing on the north-side of Newland between The Avenue and Orchard Street

Current/ongoing traffic restrictions and closures

24/7 westbound closure of Newland, between Wigford Way and The Avenue
Diversion via East West Link, Tentercroft Street, Rope Walk and Brayford Way
Vehicles can access Lucy Tower Street and the multi-storey car park by travelling eastbound along Newland

Upcoming traffic restrictions and closures

General election day is on the 4^th of July and because of this the nighttime resurfacing works on that day will not be starting until 10pm, this is to help with people travelling to the polling station.