Closures set to begin for Northampton North-West Relief Road

Pete CooperBBC News, East
News imagePeter Cooper/BBC Lines of road cones and a temporary road surface signPeter Cooper/BBC
The first road closures will take place on 18 March

A series of road closures will be put in place to allow work to begin on £54.5m relief road scheme.

The Northampton North-West Relief Road will link the A428 Harlestone Road with the A5199 Welford Road - two major routes into the town.

West Northamptonshire Council said Sandy Lane, which runs from the village of Chapel Brampton to the A5199, will remain closed until 3 April.

Access to "properties and amenities" will be maintained, the authority said.

News imagePeter Cooper/BBC Road cones on newly-tarmacked roadPeter Cooper/BBC
West Northamptonshire Council said access would be maintained to properties and amenities

Businesses on Sandy Lane include events venue Brampton Grange and the Northamptonshire County Golf Club, although both have additional entrances on other roads.

The relief road will cost a total of £54.5m, funded by the council, local enterprise partnerships and developers.

It has been in the pipeline for more than 30 years and work began in 2022, with the aim of completing the project by the summer.

West Northamptonshire Council said the Brampton Lane/Welford Road junction would be closed at night between 20:00 and 06:00 GMT, Monday to Friday, from 18 March to 28 March.

The A5199 Welford Road will be closed from 3 April until 21 June, with a diversion in place for road users.

News imagePeter Cooper/BBC Unfinished road with a pile of Heras fencing in the foregroundPeter Cooper/BBC
It is hoped the road will eventually join the A43 and reduce traffic on the northern side of Northampton

West Northamptonshire Council previously said the road was "required to facilitate development to the north of Northampton".

It is hoped the scheme will be joined to the A43 by a Northern Orbital Route, which is proposed to relieve traffic from the north of Northampton and surrounding villages.

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