Work to start on noisy A180 surface 'in near future'

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers has been offered a meeting with a government minister on the A180 concrete section after raising it in Parliament.

Mr Vickers asked the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, for "a firm date" on when work will begin to remove the concrete surface "and make it much safer than it currently is". None was given, though information was repeated about expected repairs to "substantially reduce" noise caused by the concrete section.

He was also offered a meeting with Roads Minister Guy Opperman to discuss the issue in greater detail. Mr Vickers has said he will meet the minister with his neighbouring Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici. The concrete sections still being on the A180 is causing "great irritation" for some of his constituents.

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"It is now six years since I had a letter from the then-Roads Minister telling me that the work would be completed by the end of 2021," said Mr Vickers as he asked for a firm date for replacement works to begin. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he understood it to be in National Highways concrete road programme. Additional treatment to substantially reduce noise is planned early in the next road investment period, that starts from 2025.

"I'm very pleased if he wishes to meet with the Roads Minister to discuss that in more detail and get some specifics about that time." Mr Vickers was pleased to hear of the repairs planned, but said he and Ms Nici will emphasise to the minister the need for action at the earliest opportunity.

He said: "In 2018, National Highways (then Highways England) committed to the full replacement/resurfacing of the concrete surface and, had it gone ahead, the work would have been complete by now. I appreciate that National Highways have many demands on their resources but quite frankly it is not good enough after all these years that my constituents are having to tolerate the present situation.

"The continued presence of the concrete surface causes great irritation for local residents and so I am pleased that the Transport Secretary has confirmed that work will commence in the near future. I will be meeting the Roads Minister in due course with my colleague, Lia Nici MP for Great Grimsby, so that we can hear more about the plans and reiterate the need for action at the earliest opportunity."

This month up and until May 24, emergency repairs are being carried out on both carriageways of the A180, between the Stallingborough junction and M180 junction 5. Signed diversions are in place during overnight and weekend closure periods.

Sections of the Stallingborough junction roundabout will be closed each night until Friday, May 31, for repairs there, also.