Residents and motorists in Spalding are being warned that Woolram Wygate will close for just short of two months as the next phase of the active-travel improvements on Pinchbeck Road gets under way.
The closure is expected to begin in early September and remain in place until late October. At the same time, the existing one-way system will be moved further north, with northbound traffic operating from a point north of Park Road.
The changes form part of a four-phase scheme intended to improve walking, wheeling and cycling links between Spalding and Pinchbeck. Lincolnshire County Council said the first phase has fallen behind schedule, but maintained that all four planned phases are still due to be completed on time.
How traffic will be affected
Drivers affected by the Woolram Wygate closure are expected to use Park Road as the diversion route. However, Park Road is currently closed for works until September 4, meaning its reopening will be important before the next phase begins.
The wider diversion route will run via Pinchbeck Road, Spalding Road, Wardentree Lane, the A16, Holbeach Road and West Elloe. Motorists should follow temporary signs and allow extra time for journeys while the restrictions are in place.
The county council said the work was making “good progress” and expressed confidence that Park Road would be open when the Woolram Wygate closure starts. The supplied report does not give an exact start date in September or a specific date in late October for the closure to end.
Why the work is being carried out
The active-travel project is designed to create safer and more appealing routes for people walking, using mobility aids and cycling between Spalding and Pinchbeck. The county council said the scheme would give people more choice in how they travel and improve access to schools, shops, workplaces and other important destinations.
Councillor David East, Lincolnshire County Council’s executive member for highways, said the improvements were intended to support healthier lifestyles, reduce reliance on cars and strengthen local connections. He also acknowledged that the construction would cause temporary disruption, while saying the work was necessary for longer-term benefits.
“It’s great to see this important scheme continuing to make good progress.”
Councillor Ingrid Sheard, the county councillor for Spalding Elloe, said residents had found the current works frustrating, particularly because the active-travel construction was taking place alongside utility works in the area.
She said she was working with the highways team to make on-site signage as clear as possible, so people could identify the best available route around the works. She also said the project team was working to complete each phase as quickly and safely as possible.
What happens next
Phase three is due to begin in early September, with Woolram Wygate then closed until late October. Park Road is scheduled to remain closed until September 4 for its own works, after which it is intended to serve as the diversion for the Woolram Wygate restrictions.
The county council said the four phases remain scheduled for completion on time. Once finished later in the year, the project is expected by the council to provide safer walking and cycling routes, healthier travel options, less traffic and better links between Spalding and Pinchbeck.
Residents should check the temporary signs and official project updates before travelling through the area, as the supplied information confirms the broad timing and diversion but not the precise date on which the Woolram Wygate closure will start.
