Improvements to A631 between Market Rasen and North Willingham planned for this month

Diversion Route - A631 Willingham Woods

Works to replace the worn out carriageway on the A631 between Market Rasen and North Willingham will start on Monday 24 August.

The total programme of works is expected to last for twelve weeks, subject to suitable weather.

As part of the works, overnight closures of the A631 will be in place from 7:30pm to 6am, Monday to Friday.

The diversion route for the Willingham Woods portion of night-time closures will be via the B1202 to Wragby / A157 / B1225 / A631, and vice versa.

Once the works at Willingham Woods have been completed, a separate two-week night-time closure of the A631/B1225 crossroads will be in place to allow for road reconstruction.

The diversion route for southbound traffic on the B1225 will be via the B1203 / B1202 / A157 / B1225, and vice versa. For westbound A631 traffic, the diversion will be via A157 / B1202 / A631, and vice versa.

Diversion Route - B1225 Crossroads

A temporary 40mph speed limit will be in place on the A631 throughout the project, along with daytime temporary traffic signals as needed.

Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: "Accidents on the A631 between Market Rasen and North Willingham are not uncommon, so we're rebuilding a 3.7km section of the road to make it safer for drivers.

"This will mean removing any existing cracks or wear on the road, painting new white lines and laying new tarmac which will improve grip.

"We'll be doing everything we can to reduce disruption during the project, including scheduling the works overnight so the impact on people using the road is limited."

Access for residents within the closed section will be maintained as far a reasonably practicable. However, there may be times when work is underway, preventing vehicle movement through the site.

In addition, access to the Market Rasen Racecourse and Market Rasen Golf Club via Legsby Road will also be maintained throughout the works.

Cllr Davies added: "This scheme is part of central government's larger Safer Roads Fund programme looking at improving safety on some of the county's riskiest roads, from which we received £4.6m in funding from in 2018.

"In addition to resurfacing this stretch of A631, we also will be increasing the road width and laying new road markings, as well as consulting on lowering the speed limit.

"The funding we received also includes the installation of average speed cameras and reactive signs.

"Among the other county roads earmarked for safety improvements over the next two years is the A631 between Bishop Bridge and Middle Rasen. On this stretch, we'll be looking at lowering the existing speed limit, upgrading the road's skid resistance, installing rumble strips to the road edge, and improving safety at bends along the route.

"We'll also be working with North Lincolnshire Council to improve safety on the A1084 between Caistor and Brigg and with North East Lincolnshire Council on the A18 between the A16 and the county boundary."

Nationwide, the Department for Transport's £175m Safer Roads Fund will be used to improve safety along 50 of the riskiest stretches of council-managed A-roads in the country, as identified by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF) and The RAC Foundation in 2016.

For up-to-date information about this and other roadworks, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks.

Published: 4th August 2020