'We're in a living nightmare - roadworks outside home will continue for a year'

08 August 2023 , 09:13

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Peter Stern says the council need to do more to ensure there will be minimum disruption (Image: Eleanor Maslin/Lincolnshire Echo))

Frustrated residents have slammed their council after discovering roadworks will continue outside their home for an entire year and warned it will "not be safe".

Locals in Lincoln said they are expected to deal with temporary traffic lights for 52 weeks as the authorities plan to build a junction as part of a new housing development, called the Western Growth Corridor.

They claim the first phase of works started this week and has already sparked "chaos" in the area, with concerns that the emergency services will be disrupted due to built-up traffic.

The City of Lincoln Council and Lindum confirmed that a phased traffic system will be in place whilst an access route is built for 3,200 sustainable houses on land north of Skellingthorpe Road. The new junction will be built between there and Birchwood Avenue.

But locals said the lengthy roadworks will test their "patience" and said they are bracing themselves for the "horrific" scenes that will take place once kids return to school.

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Peter Stern, 53, who has lived along Birchwood Avenue for over a year, said: "52 weeks is a long time to do a junction. It's the start of mayhem. It's difficult trying to get off my driveway, I've tried to get off twice today. No one was letting me out when I tried to reverse out. They could do with someone who can keep an eye on the queues."

Residents have warned the roadworks has caused 'mayhem' on day one (Eleanor Maslin/Lincolnshire Echo))

Naomi Davis, 61, who has lived locally for 18 months isn't convinced that disruption will be minimal, reports LincolnshireLive. She explained: "If this is what the traffic looks like now it will be interesting to see what it's like when the schools go back, it's going to be chaos. I know these things need to be done and we need the houses but it's all this that goes with it.

"I know there is no magic wand but there must be another way. I think we just have to take one day at a time but I think it will push the patience of locals."

Barry Moulton, 72, who has lived just off Birchwood Avenue for 17 years, said: "It is a big issue with traffic, we're going to get people cutting through. How are the emergency services going to get through?

"What is it going to be like when the kids go back to school? This is the first day of it and people are going to get frustrated."

Tammy Woolley, 51, who has lived on Birchwood Avenue for two years, said: "We just need to put up with it but it is going to be horrific." Marina Thompson, 60, who has lived on Birchwood Avenue with her husband for 26 years, said: "It's not safe here because cars are queueing all the time.

"When there is a school bus there is more noise." Carol Grantham, who lives near Mrs Thompson, said: "When we go anywhere we have to plan hours in advance. It used to be a nice area here."

Queues along Birchwood Avenue on the first day the roadworks commenced (Eleanor Maslin/Lincolnshire Echo))

Another resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "They have just got to do it, and complaining doesn't get you anywhere. It's going to be great when it's done."

Phase one of the works includes removing the right turn lane from Skellingthorpe Road to Birchwood Avenue and diverting via U-turn at Rookery Lane roundabout (4.7km total diversion). Councillor Naomi Tweddle, portfolio holder for inclusive economic growth at the City of Lincoln Council said: "We understand the frustrations which can come from the traffic control measures in place.

"We hope that the introduction of the three-way traffic lights at Birchwood Avenue will help to go some way to addressing local concerns and we will continue to monitor arrangements throughout the works. We apologise for the inconvenience the works may cause, however putting this infrastructure in place now will greatly benefit residents, businesses and visitors in years to come."

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Mark Burnett, Director at Lindum Western Growth Corridor Ltd said: "We are really pleased to see years of hard work finally translating into activity on site. While we appreciate there will be some inevitable disruption, we are confident this work will benefit the city of Lincoln in the longer term. We thank everyone for their patience while we deliver this significant development."

Monica Charsley