The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Two junctions on the A16 at Crowland are to undergo an urgent review of their layout amid concerns about road safety.
It follows an on-site meeting which enabled leading Lincolnshire county councillors and highways officials to witness first-hand some of the issues. It was held on Thursday evening during peak time for traffic.
The two staggered junctions observed were:
- B1166 James Road (towards Radar Corner) and Hulls Drove (towards Holbeach Drove)
- B1040 Nene Terrace Road (towards Thorney)
Crowland county councillor Nigel Pepper said the B1166 junction is the number one cause for complaint to him.
As a former member of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, he dealt with incidents there and it “concerns and distresses” him every time he hears of another collision at that location.
He said: “It scares and panics the majority of drivers every time they have to cross this junction.
“Drivers unfamiliar with the road are confused and bewildered, not knowing quite where to be on the junction with oncoming traffic approaching them from numerous directions.”
He added: “In my opinion, the entire road should have been a dual carriageway with flyovers and slip roads much like the Peterborough Parkway system. Failing that, the junction in question should have been a roundabout.
“Why a roundabout was put in at Cowbit with far less traffic and not here baffles me.”
Coun Pepper was able to express his concerns during the on-site meeting with Coun Richard Davies (executive member for highways), and senior members of both the highways department and Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.
Coun Pepper said: “The outcome of the positive meeting is that LCC Highways Department have agreed to investigate all options and implications at these two junctions as a matter of urgency.”
Coun Davies tweeted: “Going to review options and implications urgently.”
Meanwhile, average speed cameras are due to be installed between Spalding and Crowland this year.
Coun Pepper is worried about a possible knock-on effect, saying: “I have serious concerns that traffic levels and speed will increase on the old Crowland by-pass because of this as drivers will use this as a ‘rat-run’ to avoid the cameras.”
