The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A stretch of the A16 at what is deemed a dangerous Crowland junction was set to trial new traffic measures but the county council has announced nothing will be done until at least March.
UPDATE: Coun Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “Following on from the valuable feedback we’ve recently received, the start of this trial has been put on hold temporarily.
“Before progressing any further, our Planning and Regulation Committee will review the trial proposal during their meeting in early March.
“Once we’ve received the committee’s comments, we will determine the most appropriate way forward for this junction.”
Previous report:
In a letter about the proposal, Lincolnshire County Council details the planned use of barriers to “restrict traffic movements” through Radar Junction (A16/B1166) and the B1040, restricting right-hand turns into each.
The letter states: “Following a number of road traffic collisions at Radar Junction, a feasibility study was carried out to investigate options to improve safety at this junction.”
It says a roundabout “was identified as the preferred intervention method, but due to current financial constraints this cannot be taken forward.”
Instead, barriers will be put up to restrict “straight-over movements” through the junction, as well as right turns out of James Road and Hulls Drove and right turns into James Road off the A16.
Recognising this will have “impact on traffic volumes at the B1040 junction”, similar restrictions will also be in place there, namely: “restrictions on straight over movements through the junction, right turns out of the B1040 on to the A16 from both approaches and right turn into B1040 off the A16 southbound.
There will also be ‘no U turn’ restrictions at four points along the A16.
In addition, the layby approximately 400m south of Radar Junction will be closed.
Coun Nigel Pepper, district councillor for Crowland, said he is well aware of this issues of the junction: “The A16/B1166 (Radar Corner) junction matter is a problem I’ve inherited since becoming a county councillor in May 2013, there has hardly been a day gone by since then without someone complaining to me about the junction, conversely there have been others that are adamant that there is nothing wrong with it,” he said.
“Prior to becoming a county councillor I was Officer in Charge of Crowland Fire Station attending very serious road traffic collisions including fatalities along the A16 including the radar corner junction, it’s with this grounding I’m passionate about road safety, more-so at this junction.
“LCC have come under fire in two coroners’ reports into fatalities at this location and called for improvements to be carried out.”
Coun Pepper said he understands the reason for not adding the roundabout, however. He added: “The feasibility study also stated this was the 46th worst junction in Lincolnshire meaning there were 45 more junctions in the county that have a worse record of serious road traffic collisions, thereby the county council couldn’t justify spending £2m on a roundabout at this location.”
Coun Pepper said he has tried to make the public aware of all developments in the ongoing junction issue and urges anyone with “observations or concerns regarding the proposed trial” to contact LCC Highways Department.
The consultation on the current plans ends on January 17.
