Roundabout needs £10m upgrade, says council

Congestion at a Lincoln roundabout will only get worse unless £10m improvements are made, the council has said.

The A46 Nettleham roundabout is already too busy and is likely to worsen, according to a report. It also highlighted safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists attempting to cross.

Plans to make the roundabout safer and less congested include extra lanes and a 98ft (30m) footbridge connecting Lincoln with the village of Nettleham.

The project will be discussed by Lincolnshire County Council's highways and transport committee on Friday, with a final decision expected later this month.

The report states: "The A46 Nettleham Road roundabout is currently operating over capacity, with significant peak-time queuing on all approaches, often extending back to the A46/A15 Riseholme Road Roundabout.

"This has worsened following completion of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass and will further deteriorate with the North Hykeham Relief Road, both of which increase traffic through this junction."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Nettleham residents expressed enthusiasm about the plans during a consultation event last summer.

Chris Williams, who has lived in the village for 39 years, told the LDRS: "I am absolutely delighted by the scheme as a whole.

"I used to walk from Nettleham to Lincoln, but I wouldn't consider trying to cross that roundabout nowadays.

"Cars come off there at horrible speed. The footbridge will be crucial for the village, and will encourage people to walk across again."

Councillor Martin Christopher, who represents the nearby St Giles ward, said: "It will give Lincoln people a connection to the countryside and help the growing numbers commuting into the city as more homes are built in that area."

The council said the plans will likely cost £9.7m, with a third of the money coming from devolution funding.

If the project is approved, a planning application would be submitted in August, with construction beginning in spring 2027 and lasting approximately a year.

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