Main construction of the north section of Spalding’s relief road will now start during January 2022 despite Lincolnshire Council being yet to have agreed a price for the work with the contractor.
Main work on the section from Spalding Road near Pinchbeck was due to start last Spring with preparation work having begun last February.
But increased costs of a bridge spanning the railway and issues over the land ownership have delayed the work.
As part of the work, the Two Plank Lane footbridge will be closed, something Lincolnshire County Council, who are over-seeing the project had initially said would be done in June and take two-years.
But now the work is due to not start until the new year.
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “All of the land agreements for the north section of the Spalding Western Relief Road have now been agreed and signed.
“This means we can now look ahead at building the northern section which we’ll be aiming to start next January, subject to agreeing a final construction cost.
“In the meantime, we’ll be working closely with Eurovia to secure the best possible prices for materials as national shortages and cost increases continue.
“This is in addition to Eurovia continuing to carry out earthworks, building haul roads and working with utility companies to divert the utility services they can to help ensure they can hit the ground running with main construction in early 2022.”
The north section of the Spalding Western Relief Road will include construction of a new five-arm roundabout on the Spalding Road, a T-junction next to Vernatt’s Drain and a new bridge over the Lincoln to Peterborough rail line.
The scheme will also see Two Plank Bridge removed and replaced. As part of this and construction of the relief road’s north section, the bridge and connecting footpath will be closed starting early 2022 (date to be confirmed closer to the time).
Cllr Davies added: “Two Plank Bridge and the connecting footpath will be closed for an extended period to ensure the safety of everyone that uses it once main construction starts and there are up to fifty construction lorries a day crossing.
“Closing this busy pedestrian route from early next year will no doubt cause some disruption, but safety comes first during all of our roadworks and we want to thank anyone affected in advance for their patience and understanding.
“I want to assure everyone that we will do our very best to get these works finished as efficiently as possible once we start and the footpath back open as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire County Council said there was no new updates when asked about work when might start on the only other section that’s been granted planning permission, the most southerly section, or on funding being acquired for the middle sections.
In Wednesday’s Spalding Town Forum, chair coun Roger Gambba-Jones, said: “The county council jumped the gun with the announcement of the closure and the dates.
“Because they hadn’t secured the land and couldn’t start the project properly there was little point in doing what they did in announcing the closure at that point in time, other than the bridge had been damaged and they thought ‘we might as well shut it now’.
“They then caught that tirade and realised it was another publicity nightmare and a failure to communicate, so they reopened it.
“It’s currently open and will stay open until January is my latest understanding directly from someone in the know.
“The reason that’s the case is because the work proper on that section of the relief road won’t commence until after Christmas/New Year.”
For more information about the Spalding Western Relief Road project, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/swrr.
