Major improvements to walking, cycling and road infrastructure between Spalding and Pinchbeck have passed the halfway point, with the section between West Elloe Avenue to King’s Road now complete.
Cllr David East, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Not only am I excited to say that we’ve officially passed the midway point for these works, but we’ve also now opened up two-way traffic on Pinchbeck Road, between West Elloe Avenue to King’s Road.
“We’re continuing to make great progress since starting in June, and we’re now halfway towards improving facilities for people walking, wheeling and cycling between Spalding and Pinchbeck. Not only that, but we’re also working to upgrade the carriageway, signals and street lighting so the whole corridor works better for everyone.”
The northbound-only one-way system between West Elloe Avenue to King’s Road was removed on Friday evening, freeing up journeys along this section of Pinchbeck Road.
Please note that any other works within this area will be carried later in the scheme during off-peak travel times.
Cllr Ingrid Sheard, county councillor for Spalding Elloe, said: “You might notice that the new footway/cycleway between West Elloe Avenue and King’s Road isn’t completely flat. This has been done on purpose to protect the trees and their roots along this section of road.
“We’ve given very careful consideration to these trees, including their root system and overall health, as part of these works. This includes using a permeable and flexible surfacing material that allows water to reach the tree roots.
“The flexibility of the pavement will also help minimise surface cracking as the roots continue their natural growth.”
Improvements taking shape
The project is improving the route between Kings Road and Enterprise Way, creating a combination of shared and segregated footways and cycleways, alongside improvements to the carriageway, traffic signals, street lighting and pedestrian crossing facilities.
So far, over 600 tonnes of road and footway-building materials have been used, including roughly 1,260m² of Flex Pavement – an area equivalent to almost five tennis courts.
The works are being delivered in phases to allow construction to progress while keeping disruption to residents, businesses and road users as manageable as possible. Carriageway resurfacing will be carried out overnight, while footway and kerbing works will mostly be carried out during the day.
The contractor’s current programme has the project’s completion timeframe as mid-December. The council will be monitoring progress closely and will keep residents and businesses updated during the ongoing works.
Delivering major benefits for Spalding and Pinchbeck
The new facilities being installed are designed to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and more accessible, helping people travel between Spalding and Pinchbeck and reach local schools, businesses, services and residential areas.
The project includes widening and resurfacing existing footways along Pinchbeck Road to create new shared and segregated walking and cycling facilities.
New tactile paving at the Woolram Wygate junction is also expected to be installed in November, improving accessibility and making it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate the junction.
Installation of the new permanent traffic signals at the West Elloe Avenue junction is complete with the signals due to be switched on in late November. The permanent signals at the Woolram Wygate junction are expected to be switched on in mid-November.
The scheme will also include new signage for the walking and cycling facilities, while street lighting columns will be repositioned where necessary to accommodate the wider layout. Night-time works to move lighting columns in Phases 1 and 2 are expected to begin in early November.
Cllr Sheard added: “I appreciate that the ongoing works have affected journeys for local residents and businesses, so I want to thank you everyone for bearing with us while these improvements are carried out. The project team is working hard to move through each stage as efficiently as possible, while making sure the work is completed safely.
“Once finished, the scheme will provide better facilities for walking and cycling between Spalding and Pinchbeck, making it easier to reach local schools, shops, workplaces and services without relying on the car for every journey. These improvements will support healthier travel choices and better connections between our communities.”
Traffic management timeframes
The current traffic management for the project is as follows:
- Northbound-only one-way system on Pinchbeck Road, between Park Road and the Woolram Wygate junction, until mid-November
- Northbound-only one-way system on Pinchbeck Road, between the Woolram Wygate junction and Hospital Road junction, until the end of the project
- Diversion route via Pinchbeck Road / Spalding Road / Wardentree Lane / A16 / Holbeach Road / West Elloe Avenue, and vice versa
- Access to the hospital will continue to be maintained.
- 24/7 closure of Woolram Wygate level crossing until mid-November
- Diversion route via Park Road / Pennygate / Woolram Wygate, and vice versa
Cllr East added: “There will always be some disruption when we carry out improvements on this scale, but the end result will be a safer, better-connected route between Spalding and Pinchbeck.
“The team is continuing to work through the remaining phases as efficiently as possible, and I want to thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience while these improvements are delivered.”
Road reconstruction set to start in November
Major works to rebuild a one-mile stretch of Pinchbeck Road, between Kings Road and Enterprise Way, will start on Monday 2 November.
The first sections of road to be rebuilt (in two phases) will be between King’s Road and Woolram Wygate. Following that, the section of Pinchbeck Road from Woolram Wygate to Enterprise Way will be rebuilt (in three separate phases).
The road reconstruction works will be carried out under night-time road closures from 6pm to 6am. Noisy works will end no later than 11:30pm to minimise disruption to local residents. The remaining road closure time is to allow the new road surfacing to cure properly.
For the latest information about the project, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/spaldingpinchbeckroute.
Additional information about the project
Once complete, the project will provide a safer and more accessible route for people walking, wheeling and cycling, while improving connections between the two communities.
The wider highway improvements will also provide a smoother and more reliable route for motorists, with upgraded traffic signals, resurfaced carriageway and improved street lighting.
The scheme forms part of Lincolnshire County Council’s ongoing investment in walking and cycling facilities. It supports the ambitions of the Spalding Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which sets out a long-term vision for making it easier and more attractive for people to walk, wheel and cycle around the town.
The Spalding LCWIP is expected to be considered by the council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee later this year, alongside plans for nine other locations across Lincolnshire, as part of the process towards formal adoption.
The project is expected to cost £1.8m and will be funded by Active Travel England’s ‘Tranche 3 Active Travel Fund’, which was awarded to Lincolnshire County Council in May 2022.