More 'CHAOS' until CHRISTMAS for thousands as roadworks at busy Northampton junction to start soon
‘Delays expected’ until CHRISTMAS for thousands of motorists as roadworks to start soon at busy junction near Northampton secondary school.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) will begin its Active Travel Scheme construction on October 21 at the junction of Rushmere Road and Billing Road.
Signs erected at the crossroads indicate that ‘delays are expected’ and that the works will last until December 20.
Cllr Phil Larratt, WNC’s man in charge of highways, stated that the works will make it safer for children and young people attending nearby schools and acknowledged there may be delays.
Councillor Larratt said: “Work on a project to make walking and cycling journeys in the Abington Park area safer and more pleasant for our residents will commence shortly. The first phase of the overall scheme will provide much-needed pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities where none currently exist, making the junction safer for all, especially for the children and young people attending nearby schools who regularly cross it.
"We acknowledge that temporary traffic measures and road closures may cause delays for some road users and we will be engaging with the local community to ensure that they are kept up to date as works progress on this first phase of the scheme.”
One unhappy resident in the area wrote into the Chronicle and Echo, forewarning of the ‘impending chaos’.
The resident said: “I don’t know if you have ever visited Rushmere Road recently. It is already at gridlock level, especially during the early morning rush hour, but it gets worse from 3:30pm onwards. Part of Rushmere Road will be closed, with traffic being directed down side roads. I can safely say that these roads will be terrible. The side roads will not cope with the diverted traffic. Residents already park on their roads, so they will only allow one car at a time. I just wish to warn of the impending chaos. The [council’s] feedback exercise was a whitewash. The council has received a grant to pay for these roadworks, just as they did for the abandoned original model cycle lanes, with barriers, down Rushmere Road. I wanted to forewarn you of the impending chaos in this part of town.”
After these works are completed, the next phase will begin, which will see improvements for pedestrian and cyclist safety at the nearby King Edward Road junction on Park Avenue South opposite Abington Park.
These are the third set of major roadworks happening across the town at the same time, all scheduled to continue until December.
The Abington Active Travel route aims to improve walking and cycling facilities in the area. The scheme seeks to encourage walking, wheeling, and cycling, according to WNC.
The Active Travel Fund is one of several funding streams established by the previous Government for walking and cycling schemes, helping to promote healthy travel, reduce CO2 emissions, and boost the economy, the council said.
The Abington scheme, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Active Travel Tranche 2, aims to improve connectivity and accessibility, linking Rushmere Road to Wellingborough Road.