Work has officially begun on the long-awaited North Hykeham Relief Road.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday 17 March to mark the start of the project. Attendees included the Leader of Lincolnshire Conty Council; members of the county council’s Executive; local county councillors; city and district leaders; and representatives from Balfour Beatty and Bentley Project Management.
Councillor Sean Matthews, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Breaking ground on the North Hykeham Relief Road is a huge milestone and something the council has been working towards for many years. Delivering this final piece of Lincoln’s ring road will make it much easier for people to get around the area and will play a vital role in supporting Lincolnshire’s future growth.
“This road will offer huge economic benefits when it’s finished, including opening up land for 4,500 homes and 7 hectares of employment space. It will also contribute £800 million in economic benefits for the county over the next 60 years, which is a massive amount.
“I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved in getting the project to this stage – including the project management team and Balfour Beatty. But let’s not take our foot off the pedal, though. Our next goal is getting this new road open during Summer 2029 so Lincolnshire can start reaping the benefits of it.”
The North Hykeham Relief Road is expected to bring a wide range of benefits once complete, including easing congestion in and around North Hykeham and Lincoln, improving journey reliability, and helping support new housing and employment opportunities.
With ground officially broken, the construction team will now gradually ramp up over the coming weeks on site up before construction on site is in full operation from early May.
Councillor David East said: “While it’s fantastic to see spades in the ground and mark the official start of the project, the next few weeks will be about getting everything ready so we can really hit the ground running from early May.
“Between now and then, we’ll be carrying out vegetation clearance, installing fencing and signs, and setting up site compounds. Once those preparations are complete, we’ll be ready for a full programme of construction activity to get underway.
“Once the new road linking the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass is complete, the new dual carriageway will improve connectivity, reduce congestion around Lincoln and the surrounding villages, and support long-term growth across Lincolnshire.”
Kay Slade, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Regional Civils business, said: “Receiving Notice to Proceed is a significant milestone for the North Hykeham Relief Road project, reflecting several years of close collaboration to get this complex scheme to the point where construction can now begin.
“Early engagement with Lincolnshire County Council and key partners has been critical in shaping a deliverable solution, and we’re proud to now be moving forward into the main works phase on a project that will create employment opportunities and deliver lasting benefits for local communities and the wider county.”
The North Hykeham Relief Road is expected to open during Summer 2029.
As part of the project, new roundabouts would be built at South Hykeham Road, Brant Road and Grantham Road. A number of bridges would also be constructed, including at Station Road and over the River Witham.
For more information about this and other major highways projects, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/nhrr.