Lincoln Eastern Bypass

Lincoln Eastern Bypass

Minster Group is proud to have played a major role in the completion of the A46 Lincoln Eastern Bypass which opened in December 2020.

The £120m project created a 7.5km route around the east of Lincoln, including a separate footpath and cycleway which runs alongside the road.

Commuters claim that the new route has cut their journey times ‘by half the time’, helping to support the local economy and community of Lincoln and Lincolnshire. The completed bypass includes four roundabouts as well as a 140 metre bridge over the River Witham.

Working alongside Lincolnshire County Council and primary contractor Galliford Try, Minster Group supported the project with road surfacing, reinstatement work, drainage installation and roundabout construction. Our team was also responsible for the construction of the adjacent footpath and cycleway.

The bypass now makes travel to and from areas such as Cherry Willingham and Washingborough, far easier – without the need to travel into the city. The new route starts at the new A15 roundabout on Sleaford Road and finishes on the A158 Wragby Road, creating almost a full ring-road around Lincoln.

Our team constructed an entirely new roundabout on the A15 Sleaford Road and we also surfaced large stretches of the road itself, fitting drainage installations and carrying out reinstatement work.

Minster’s teams worked day and night, weekdays and weekends, to minimise disruption and to ensure the impressive project kept on track. Minster was originally involved in the project on behalf of the original primary contractor, Carillion and the team continued working on the project under Galliford Try following the company’s liquidation, seeing the project through to completion, despite the impact of flooding and the coronavirus pandemic.

Overall, nearly 1.4 million hours have been spent building the bypass, with 150,000 tonnes of asphalt and other road building materials used.

In future, the Eastern Bypass will eventually be connected with the £148.5 million North Hykeham Relief Road, which was approved by Lincolnshire County Council in September 2018.

Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council said:

“This is fantastic news, not just for Lincoln and the surrounding area, but for the county as a whole.

“Now that the bypass is open, people will see a big reduction in the number of cars and HGVs travelling through Lincoln, including 25% less on Broadgate alone.

Not only that, but the road has also opened up land for new housing, which will help boost the city’s and county’s economies over the coming years.”

“This project has faced challenge after challenge, from Carillion going into liquidation and unprecedented wet weather to internationally-significant archaeological finds and now coronavirus.

“But our project team, including Galliford Try, has done an excellent job tackling each and every one put in front of them.

“This road a true testament to the hard work and dedication of all the people who have worked tirelessly to make this new bypass a reality”

We’re really proud to have played such an important role in delivering this project for the city and county and we’re pleased that commuters are now able to have a far quicker and pleasant journey without the need to drive through the city, helping to relieve congestion.

We’re also pleased with the reception from cyclists and pedestrians who now have a safe, smooth and direct new route around the city, helping to encourage and support sustainable transport and exercise.