Major routes face delays

ROADWORKS on two major routes into and out of Scunthorpe are set to give motorists a new year headache.

And the works come after North Lincolnshire Council started a two-week programme to fill more than 500 potholes in the region.

The Highways Agency will begin a project to replace two miles of central reservation barrier on the M181 on Monday, January 14.

It will see one lane closed in both directions at all times until Friday, March 22, with a 50mph speed limit in place.

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Steven Wright, project manager for the Highways Agency scheme, said: "We advise road users to plan their journeys to avoid delays."

It comes after Northern Powergrid resumed its programme of replacing electrical cables on a new stretch of Brigg Road, in work which is expected to last until May.

Northern Powergrid began its scheme to renew 8.5km of cables in August but stopped work over the Christmas period.

Now, temporary traffic lights are in position at the junction of Brigg Road with Station Road and High Street East.

Lights will also be in operation at the junction with Glebe Road this weekend – Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13.

Javed Akter, the treasurer of the North Lincolnshire Taxi and Private Hire Association, said he had noticed a difference since the Brigg Road scheme resumed.

He said: "I got stuck in traffic for some time, so that is going to build up and more and more people will start to use Frodingham Road, Ashby Road and Oswald Road.

"On the M181, I believe there will be problems, especially at the peak periods of rush hour.

"I think there are going to be tailbacks but the public will have to be patient.

"The job has to be done and we can't do anything about it."

Recent weather conditions have caused potholes to open up on roads around the region, creating more problems for motorists.

Now North Lincolnshire Council is carrying out temporary repairs in Scunthorpe and rural areas over the next two weeks.

Permanent repairs will then be carried out later in the year.

Rob Beales, head of better routes at the council, said reports of 522 potholes had been received.

He said: "We have committed all our available resources to going around and filling them.

"All of our road workers are out, with the commitment to seek and fill.

"We are tackling the ones reported to us that are dangerous firstly and then going around all of the other places across North Lincolnshire, looking for them."

Mr Beales said the pothole problem was currently not as severe as in previous years.

But he added it could get worse if temperatures drop in the coming days.

To report a pothole or damage caused by a pothole, call North Lincolnshire Council on 01724 297000 or fill in a form at www.northlincs.gov.uk