National Highways has introduced a weight restriction on the A5 through Towcester town centre to alleviate traffic.
The traffic order will help prevent vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes travelling on the A5 through the Northamptonshire town, reducing noise, improving air quality and creating a safer, more welcoming environment in the town centre.
The weight limit applies along the A5 from the roundabout at Cow Pastures Lane to the Old Tiffield Road junction.
The measures follow the opening of the Towcester Relief Road, which has been constructed by Persimmon Homes as part of their new housing development. It connects the A5 to the A43 and opened to traffic today. It aims to ease traffic through the centre of Towcester as well as support economic growth in the region.
Andrew Jinks, Midlands Regional Director at National Highways, said:
“The completion of Persimmon’s relief road means we can now go ahead with our plan for a weight restriction on the A5 to tackle the issues businesses and residents have raised about congestion, noise and vibrations from passing large vehicles.
“This is the first phase of National Highways’ work to address some of those concerns and find a solution to reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling along the A5 every day. Further improvements will take place later this year to continue in our ambition of improving congestion and safety in the historic town centre.”
