Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Congestion-busting plans for A1 carpenters lodge to go on show to public

HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release (EM 67/05) issued by the Government News Network on 24 March 2005

The Highways Agency is inviting members of the public to come along to a two-day public exhibition to mark the latest stage of its improvement scheme for the A1/B1081 Carpenters Lodge junction near Stamford.

The public will be able to see the draft Or ders, published today, for the new two-level junction which show in detail the line of the new road, how much land will be taken and which side roads will be affected.

The exhibition is being held at Lady Annes Hotel, High Street St Martins, Stamford on Friday 15 April between 3pm and 8pm and Saturday 16 April between 10am and 3pm.

Highways Agency project manager Paul Tully said;

"The publication of these draft Orders is another step forward for the scheme and follows on from the preferred route announcement in February.

"People are invited to come along to the exhibition where they can put questions to the project team about the scheme and its environmental implications. From today, they can also view these latest Orders and the environmental statement at the local libraries and council offices shown below."

The draft Order plans and the environmental statement can be viewed at the following locations from today, and on the Highways Agency website atwww.highways.gov.ukshortly:

• Lincolnshire County Council county offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL
• Highways Agency reception, Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham.
• Government Office for the East Midlands, The Belgrave Centre, Stanley Place, Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GG
• Government Office for East for England, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury, Cambridge CB2 2DF
• South Kesteven District Council, 1 Maiden Lane, Stamford, PE9 2AZ
• Peterborough City Council, Town Hall, Peterborough, PE1 1PJ
• Ketton Library, High Street, Ketton, Rutland, PE9 3TE
• Stamford Library, High Street, Stamford, PE9 2BB

Paul Tully added:

"The period for representations from the public for this junction improvement ends on Friday 26 May 2005. We will respond to any queries, concerns and objections we receive and seek to resolve them. Depending on the number and substance of objections, a public inquiry may be held before an independent inspector around Autumn 2005."

Anyone who wishes to comment on these proposals is welcome to do so. These should be sent to Carpenters Lodge Junction Improvement Team, A1 Peterborough to Blyth Project, Highways Agency, Floor D4, Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1BL or Email:a1carpenterslodge@highways.gsi.gov.uk

1. The Highways Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport and manages, maintains and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State. It works closely with other transport operators and with local authorities to integrate the trunk road network with the rest of England's roads and other forms of transport.
2. Copies of the draft orders and the environmental statement will be available on the Highways Agency websitewww.highways.gov.ukor from GNN on the number below.
3. The preferred route for the Carpenters Lodge scheme the A1/B1081 roundabout junction proposes a new side road overbridge and associated slip roads to the north of the existing junction. The existing roundabout will be removed and left turns out of Racecourse Road will be banned.
4. The junction improvement is anticipated to cost £9 million.
   
   The scheme is designed to improve safety and reduce congestion. Between 1998-2003 there were 58 injury accidents at the location with an average of 50,000 vehicles per day (22% HGVs) using this junction.
5. The award of an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract for the scheme was announced on 23 August 2003. The contract was awarded to Interserve Projects, based in Mansfield, Notts. ECI brings the contractor in at an early stage of design and development, which means the scheme can benefit from the contractor's expertise in construction methods, bringing reduced costs and improved value to the project. ECI also allows for more scope for innovation, better planning for resource requirements and shorter construction periods.
6. The publication of the draft Orders for Carpenters Lodge is the fourth of a number of announcements for the A1 Peterborough to Blyth Grade Separated Project. Apleyhead and Blyth junctions in Notts were made on 10 February and 24 February 2005, Gonerby Moor in Lincs was made on 17 March 2005 and draft Orders for Colsterworth and Markham Moor are anticipated summer 2005
7. The Preferred Route Announcement (PRA) for Carpenters Lodge was made on 17 February 2005 (along with Gonerby Moor), PRAs for Apleyhead and Blyth were made in December 2004 and March 2003 respectively and Colsterworth and Markham Moor were both made on 16 March 2005.
8. Start of works for this scheme is expected early 2007and completed mid-2008, subject to funding and satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures.

Issued on behalf of the Highways Agency by GNN East Midlands

For enquiries from the media, journalists and researchers only, Highways Agency press officer Jo Sheppard can be contacted at 0115 971 2783

Media enquiries out of hours can be made to 0207 081 7443. All other enquiries about the Highways Agency, its role and responsibilities, should be made through the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30.