Lincoln Eastern Bypass: "Get on with it!"

[TheKeymeister]

The project isn't exactly in full swing yet... There are night time works on the A158 roundabout with what looks like a haul road being constructed and the extra arm of the roundabout starting, one of the railway bridges near Washingborough is nearing completion I believe but this was contracted out to someone else, there are other preparation works ongoing for some of the other bridges whilst utility diversions are ongoing, Anglian Water have been working for a while near Branston, and WPD are cracking on with moving the numerous high voltage overhead lines out of the way.

[Berk]

It’s not that much different to other major projects. The A14 hasn’t seen a huge deal of road construction - just civils, and utility works.

[wrinkly]

one of the railway bridges near Washingborough is nearing completion I believe but this was contracted out to someone else

As this bypass goes over one railway line and under another, it illustrates interesting points about railway bridges on new roads. Bridges over railways are usually designed by the highway authority or their design agent, built as part of the road contract, and then maintained by the highway authority or their agent. Bridges under railways are usually designed by the railway, built under a separate contract from the road (sometimes by the same contractor and sometimes in advance of the other works), charged to the road scheme, and then maintained by the railway.

In this case (see my posts of 14 May and 20 Oct 2017 above) the bridge under the railway was at an advanced stage before there was much to be seen on the other rail bridge or the rest of the bypass works.

[roadtester]

A brief update on progress and details of associated road closures from the local rag:

https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2018/04/upc ... rn-bypass/

[wrinkly]

I had a look round today. There's relatively little to be seen from most of the roads that cross the line of the bypass. Hedges have been removed at the crossings. The bridge under the railway is substantially finished, and work is in progress on the bridge over the other railway.

[Berk]

It’s amazing how most of the road construction takes place in the second, or third years of a project. The first year is mainly for clearances, utility diversions and civils.

[wrinkly]

And putting in the drainage.

[Berk]

I’d be interested to see how much time will be saved on a run up to Yorkshire, once it’s open.

Previously I’ve gone into the city centre, down the High Street, turned left along St Mark’s Street, up Brayford Way, Yarborough Road and Riseholme Road. It’s not too bad.

Also, when the bypass opens, it will be 35 years after the western bypass. Could that be some sort of record - for two adjoining schemes??

[wrinkly]

Also, when the bypass opens, it will be 35 years after the western bypass. Could that be some sort of record - for two adjoining schemes??

The M6 Cumberland Gap opened 38 years after the Carlisle bypass. I expect there are other examples.

A1(M) Leeming Bar to Barton has just opened 53 years after the Darlington bypass - though there have been intermediate improvements such as the grade separation at Scotch Corner about 1972, and later at both ends of the Catterick bypass.

Back to the subject of the thread. The bridge under the railway is now at the tidying up stage.

The B1188 is currently closed where the bypass route crosses it.

There's very little visible evidence at other road crossings.

Today was the first time for many years that I've been along the southern part of the western bypass. I see that a former staggered junction has been converted to a roundabout and the bypass has been dualled from there northwards to the B1190 bypass.

[Berk]

Today was the first time for many years that I've been along the southern part of the western bypass. I see that a former staggered junction has been converted to a roundabout and the bypass has been dualled from there northwards to the B1190 bypass.

They were done around 2011-12, I believe.

[wrinkly]

Today was the first time for many years that I've been along the southern part of the western bypass. I see that a former staggered junction has been converted to a roundabout and the bypass has been dualled from there northwards to the B1190 bypass.

They were done around 2011-12, I believe.

At the north end of the dualled stretch going south there's a sign for the improvement, like they have at current roadworks!

[Berk]

Crumbs, that’s a bit previous!!

[wrinkly]

It turns out the sign is on Streetview (pictured 2017):

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.20945 ... 312!8i6656

And one at the other end:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.19580 ... 312!8i6656

Incidentally also an example of authorities using the Ax(T) notation.

[e17simon]

Hi there,

I recently visited my Uncle Bob who lives south of Lincoln in Metheringham. As we drove back from the City Centre, he said they had just started the roadworks crossing the B 1188 which is after Branston but before the "bends of Death".

[Arcuarius]

It turns out the sign is on Streetview (pictured 2017):

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.20945 ... 312!8i6656

And one at the other end:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.19580 ... 312!8i6656

Incidentally also an example of authorities using the Ax(T) notation.

Can confirm they're still there!

[alans]

The plans for the next section of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass have been approved by Lincoln Council,this will complete the the bypass to the A46 ,it will be dual carriageway and will cost £148m.At present it is unfunded

[Berk]

Can I just say the Southern bypass is a separate scheme from the Eastern bypass.

The Southern bypass was recently renamed the “North Hykeham Relief Road”.

But yes, not presently funded (although planned almost as long as the Eastern bypass).

[TheKeymeister]

As above, proposals for the Southern bypass have been passed by the council (and to be D2 spec!) but no funding as of yet. Presumably a decent chunk of developer contributions from all the building in North Hykeham to make it slightly more possible?

Bloxholm Lane has been closed for a few weeks now to facilitate the construction of the southern-most roundabout. Lincoln Road Branston is due for numerous weekend hard closures, presumably for roundabout construction. Heighington Road currently closed for construction of the new bridge to carry the bypass over/under.
Other than that, massive amounts of earthworks still in progress along with drainage going in.

Still not convinced it'll make much difference to my journey times if I'm honest. Riseholme Roundabout is terrible in all directions during peak times, there's regularly 10 minutes of queues heading south onto it from the A15 due to the A46 dropping from D2 to S2 there. With an increase in traffic from the Eastern bypass its only going to get worse...

[ravenbluemoon]

Still not convinced it'll make much difference to my journey times if I'm honest. Riseholme Roundabout is terrible in all directions during peak times, there's regularly 10 minutes of queues heading south onto it from the A15 due to the A46 dropping from D2 to S2 there. With an increase in traffic from the Eastern bypass its only going to get worse...

I'm not sure what exactly they'll be doing, but I was involved in some surveying works on that roundabout and the one to the east about about 18 months ago. It was just on the roundabouts and approaches, so it won't be dualling. I suspect extra lanes and stacking space.

[Berk]

Hmmm, yes. It will completely undermine the benefit of the bypass if the time you save bypassing Lincoln is spent queueing at a roundabout...