North Lincolnshire Council has reported that work is due to start on a £4.5m highway scheme that will open up the opportunity for employment and housing growth whilst easing congestion on the road network in North Lincolnshire.
Work will start in June to create a new junction on the M181 that unlocks 60 acres of land for commercial development, enables the building of new homes and eases congestion in North Lincolnshire. The new junction will also act as a bypass for Burringham village, says the council.
The new junction will connect to a new east to west link road between the M181 and Scotter Road. This is a key milestone of the Lincolnshire Lakes development that will support the transformation of North Lincolnshire’s economy, according to the council.
The scheme has been funded by Government cash through the Greater Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP) as part of their plans to grow Lincolnshire’s economy.
This is part of a bigger scheme that will see another roundabout built by Highways England at the northern end of the M181 connecting it to Burringham Road. The M181 will then be detrunked and will no longer be a motorway.
Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is a key milestone in the Lincolnshire Lakes development allowing access to land for commercial development creating jobs and new homes. The investment in the infrastructure will provide the green light for the development as a whole. Lincolnshire Lakes is a game changer for North Lincolnshire’s economy and will be a catalyst for the regeneration of the area.
“The new junction will also ease congestion in North Lincolnshire, particularly at Berkeley Circle. With construction companies facing difficult times, now is the right time for the council to invest in the infrastructure of North Lincolnshire, protecting jobs now and at the same time building for the future.”
Pat Doody, chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “We are delighted to be investing £4.5m in this crucial infrastructure scheme, which will enable access to 600 acres of land for development of housing and employment use.
“The new junction will serve as one of the primary roundabouts providing access to new villages on the emerging housing development in the area and will alleviate congestion issues around the existing Berkeley Circle roundabout in Scunthorpe. This is the first key element of an ambitious wider scheme which, in addition to creating new homes, has the potential to house a new hub for advanced manufacturing, providing high-skill job opportunities for North Lincolnshire and the surrounding area.”
The work will take 48 weeks and is being carried out by ESH Construction Ltd. Procedures are in place to ensure they work safely in the current environment, says the council.
