The first sod cutting was carried out by Cllr Neil Cooper, Chairman of the County Council's Highways Policy Development Group, and Member for Wainfleet and Burgh le Marsh. He was accompanied by Cllr William Webb, the County Council's Executive Councillor for Highways. Richard Wills, Director of Development, Paul Coathup, Assistant Director, Cllr Mrs Pauline Cooper, Cllr Colin Davie, County Councillor for Ingoldmells Rural, and representatives from main contractor May Gurney and the parish council, including the Mayor, Cllr Cecil Smith.

 

 

BURGH LE MARSH BYPASS – START ON SITE

 

Work is set to start on the Burgh le Marsh bypass on 4 September – more than 18 months earlier than originally expected.

 

The new road could then open to traffic in early 2008, giving a boost to residents before the Easter holiday, and help reduce traffic congestion and accidents in the town.

 

To mark the start of work on the scheme, a sod-cutting ceremony took place to the east of Burgh le Marsh Village, on Tuesday, 29 August 2006.

The scheme had originally been allocated a start of March 2008, but Lincolnshire County Council successfully lobbied for an earlier date. The Government has now given full approval to the £15m scheme and is providing a £13.5m grant towards the cost.

 

Once completed, the two-lane, all-purpose carriageway will run for three miles to the north of the town. It will follow a route from (in the west) just south-east of the A158/C541 junction down to (in the east) the existing A158 west of Lyndhurst Garden Centre.

Councillor William Webb, Executive Councillor for Highways said : “The bypass will reduce journey times to the coast, especially at peak holiday times, as well as enhancing the quality of life for residents. It will help support the regeneration of coastal resorts, as well as providing traffic relief for thousands of visitors.

 

“The news is a great boost to Lincolnshire , which had to compete against schemes from all over the East Midlands , including those promoted by the Highways A gency.”

Councillor Neil Cooper, local County Councillor for Wainfleet and Burgh, added: “ The coming of the Burgh le Marsh bypass has been on people's lips since the 1930s. The approval of the scheme is a tribute to the partnership working where local people in the action group have supported the County Council in lobbying the Government for release of the funding. This is good news for the people of Burgh le Marsh, but we must not forget the traders who will now desperately need everyone's support.”

 

The bypass will be built by May Gurney, the company that finished the Partney Bypass three month ahead of schedule.

 

Released by John Giblin Communicatons Officer Lincolnshire County Council.