£3.5m Roman Bank improvements set to start next month

As well as carriageway improvements, there are also plans to improve drainage and refurbish a pedestrian crossing along a 550m stretch Roman Bank.

The works are due to start on Monday, September 7, and are expected to last for just over eight months, subject to suitable weather.

They will be carried out between Roman Bank's junction with Burgh Road/Castleton Boulevard to just past its junction with Elmhirst Avenue -

In recent years residents have claimed to the Skegness Standard that travelling along this stretch of Roman Bank was like driving on the 'surface of the moon'.

One resident living next to the road even claimed that badly filled potholes caused items to 'fly off the bathroom shelf'.

The announcement work was being scheduled by Lincolnshire County Council came in February, with the news an additional £3.6m funding was being put towards A52 Roman Bank improvements.

This is part of the council's Go Skegness project, which aims to ease town centre congestion and encourage more people to travel sustainably by walking, cycling or using buses.

The programme also includes:

- improvements to cycle paths, footpaths, and links

- enhanced Skegness to Gibraltar Point footpath and cycle path

- improved public transport facilities

- improved information and signs

Coun Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: "This stretch of Roman Bank is a vital piece of our coast's infrastructure, but it is in desperate need of repair.

"However, thanks to the £3.6m in funding we received from the Department for Transport earlier this year, we can finally give it a new lease of life.

"Our plan is to start work just after the end of the school summer holidays next month so it's ready to re-open next May, just in time for summer."

As part of the works, a full 24/7 road closure of Roman Bank will be in place from the end of September 7 - with the exact location given as the scheme progresses.

The official diversion route for the closure will be via the A52 / C541 / A158 at the Gunby dual carriageway, and vice versa.

Coun Davies continued: "Although drivers won't be able to access or park within the area of works, or use Roman Bank as a through route during the project, pedestrian access will be maintained for residents and businesses.

"The only exception will be when we are working directly outside of a property. When that happens, access will be limited but the team will do their absolute best to complete that area as quickly as possible.

"I want to thank everyone in advance for bearing once we start making these improvements.

"Not only will they help keep the coast's road network up and running, but they'll also mean smoother and safer journeys for everyone traveling in Skegness."

For up-to-date information about this and other roadworks, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks.