Friday 12:28
Pedestrians in the Grantham area will soon benefit from a safer alternative route when crossing the A1 section of the Gingerbread Way, a 25 mile circular walk around the town, thanks to improvement work by the Highways Agency due to start on Monday, January 10 2005.
People using the existing route have to cross the A1 at Barrowby near the junction with the A52. The new alternative way will provide a 300 metre track alongside the A1 southbound carriageway. A stairway will be created to take pedestrians up to the A52 to join an existing bridge and footway which then leads to the Gingerbread Way. New signs will be posted in both directions and the existing right of way will remain.
So that the improvements can be carried out safely, there will be some off peak (9.30am-3.30pm) lane one closures along an 800 metre stretch of the A1 southbound at Barrowby near the junction with the A52, Monday to Thursday. A short section of the A52 (immediately above the A1) will have temporary traffic lights in place Monday to Thursday. The safety scheme will take about four weeks to complete.
Highways Agency assistant route manager Graham Broome said:
"This is a great example of the Highways Agency improving its road network for all its users, not just for drivers.
"The Agency held meetings as part of our national vulnerable users crossing survey to which the Ramblers' Association was invited. They asked if we could make this location safer. Improving facilities for pedestrians is high on our agenda and, although there have been no reported accidents involving walkers, this location was already included in the national list of schemes. So we looked at the site and came up with a design for a safer crossing that linked up with an existing bridge and footpaths.
"I hope this new route will encourage more people to enjoy this countryside walk. We are also installing new 'Gingerbread Way' signs along this new section to further benefit local people."
Adrian Morris, Head of footpath campaigns at the Ramblers Association said,
" We welcome any scheme that increases the safety and enjoyment of walkers. It is encouraging that the Highways Agency has listened to our concerns about the safety of this crossing and is putting plans into action to address the situation. We look forward to continuing to work with the Agency to help improve the safety of other crossings around the country."
Frank Edley, footpath secretary of the Grantham Ramblers group said, "These plans are most acceptable and I look forward to them being carried out
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport, which 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 local authorities to integrate the trunk road network with the rest of England's roads and other forms of travel.
2. Information about roadworks throughout the region is available from the Highways Agency website at http://www.highways.gov.uk
3. Work, costing £67,000 will be carried out by North Midland Construction and supervised by AMScott on behalf of the Highways Agency.
4. The Gingerbread Way was developed to celebrate the Ramblers' Association Golden Jubilee in 1985. The name of the path refers to the Gingerbread Biscuit, a Grantham speciality. For further information contact Frank Edley of Grantham Ramblers' Group on 01476 563235
Client ref EM 319/04
