Heavy vehicles banned from town centre road

A weight restriction has been imposed to reduce traffic passing through a market town.

Drivers of vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes can no longer travel on the A5 through Towcester in Northamptonshire.

The measure was introduced on Wednesday, on the same day that the Towcester Relief Road opened, which connects the A5 with the A43.

Andrew Jinks, midlands regional director at National Highways, said engineers were trying to "tackle the issues businesses and residents have raised about congestion, noise and vibrations from passing large vehicles".

"Further improvements will take place later this year to continue in our ambition of improving congestion and safety in the historic town centre," said Jinks.

The weight limit applies along the A5 from the roundabout at Cow Pastures Lane to the Old Tiffield Road junction, and signs have been installed to inform drivers of the restriction.

Exemptions apply for emergency vehicles, buses and coaches, recovery vehicles responding to nearby call-outs and vehicles making deliveries to residents, shops and businesses.

National Highways said there could also be occasions when traffic was diverted through Towcester due to roadworks, collisions or incidents on the A43 or the new link road.

Other improvements to the A5 are expected to begin in the autumn, including new shared-use paths and crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

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