National Highways closing the gap on safety risks

National Highways will begin installing steel barriers across the gaps, which are between Little Ponton and South Witham in Lincolnshire, on Wednesday 16 July.

The move was confirmed following a public consultation after concerns were raised by local communities. Some of the gaps are used to access farmers’ land, some to cross the A1 and others to turn right onto the opposite carriageway.

This is the first phase in National Highways’ safety improvements plan with larger gaps across Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Rutland, between Blyth and Stamford, being considered for closure in the next phase.

Caption: The first 13 gaps which are closing following a public consultation. National Highways has numbered 59 gaps along the A1 for consideration

National Highways Route Manager, Phil Shaw, said:

“There has been a lot of support for closing these gaps and we have heard the concerns of communities along the A1. That’s why we are developing a long-term safety plan for this road including shutting off more gaps.

“Installing barriers across the 13 gaps will take around five weeks but we are minimising disruption for road users and local people by carrying out the work as part of our ongoing upgrade of A1 safety barriers.

“That work, between Harlaxton and South Witham, is being carried out under lane closures overnight, when we know the roads are quieter, and we can carry out the gap barrier installations at the same time.”

National Highways is now looking at other gaps to understand how closing them would impact road users and communities. Traffic modelling will be needed to ensure the junctions people are diverted to can safely cope with additional traffic.

Phil Shaw added:

“Closing the central reservation gaps, particularly the larger ones, is a complex legal and technical process. We need to ensure that the problems are not moved to a different location, to consider collision data and the public rights of way.”

Caption: One of the gaps that will be closed off on the A1

Meanwhile, in the last two years National Highways has spent around £19 million on safety improvements and road renewals on the A1, including new road markings, improved signage, the introduction of LED road studs and red high friction surfacing at a number of junctions between South Witham and Tickencote.

Safety barriers and drainage have been renewed between Colsterworth and Great Gonerby as well as upgraded signage, high friction surfacing at junctions, solar powered road studs and lighting upgrades between Great Ponton and Balderton.  

In January a package of work started between South Witham and Little Ponton which has included improving signage, refreshing road markings, replacing solar road studs, clearing vegetation and road resurfacing. 

We’re also currently carrying out the maintenance on safety barriers between Harlaxton and South Witham and resurfacing the carriageway between Newark and Apleyhead. 

Further details and updates on works taking place along the A1 can be found on the National Highways website here.

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

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