Work to install traffic signals at the junction of Birchwood Avenue and Doddington Road in Lincoln has provoked sharp complaints from local residents after contractors began a programme of works earlier this month that will last for around five months.
Residents report long delays and longer school runs
Several parents and motorists said the closures and traffic management have turned short journeys into lengthy detours. One resident reported that a usual seven-minute school run had stretched to up to 45–50 minutes at peak times, and another said a detour they were forced to take adds about 35 minutes to the journey.
"It's been awful, particularly on the school run. We've had to start taking a detour which adds 35 minutes. We've been leaving early every morning, and my son was still 20 minutes late to school the other day. The amount of time it costs you is crazy."
The works mean motorists will be unable to turn from Birchwood Avenue onto Doddington Road for most of the scheme, although the opposite direction will remain open. Residents described long queues along Birchwood Avenue during rush hours and warned of further disruption for the remaining months of the project.
Why the works are taking place — and why councils disagree
The City of Lincoln Council initially indicated the signal installation was required to reduce congestion and increase capacity to support traffic associated with the nearby Charterholme housing development. Subsequently, the city authority argued the upgrade was no longer necessary after funding was secured to open a separate access onto Tritton Road earlier than planned.
By contrast, Lincolnshire County Council, which is the local highways authority, maintained the works were still required. The differing positions have left residents uncertain about the necessity and timing of the scheme while they continue to face delays.
Local views split over the improvement
Not all reaction has been negative. Some neighbourhood residents welcomed the long-awaited upgrades. One local said the junction had been a problem for two decades and that improvement works were overdue, particularly because any accident on the nearby bypass can channel extra traffic through the residential route.
- Duration: works started earlier this month and are scheduled to continue until March (roughly five months).
- Restriction: no right-turn from Birchwood Avenue onto Doddington Road for most of the scheme.
- Context: linked to the Charterholme housing development and proposed earlier access to Tritton Road.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start | Earlier this month |
| Planned duration | Approximately five months (until March) |
| Main restriction | No turning from Birchwood Avenue onto Doddington Road for most of the works |
The disagreement between the city and county councils over whether the upgrade is still necessary highlights the complexity of coordinating transport improvements with housing development. Residents affected by the closures say they must make practical adjustments — leaving earlier for school runs, taking lengthy detours or sitting in traffic queues — while those who favour the works argue improvements will reduce longer-term risk and congestion.
Lincolnshire County Council's continued support for the scheme indicates the authority considers the junction upgrade an essential highways intervention. The City of Lincoln Council's position, citing alternative access funding to Tritton Road, suggests there may be opportunities to reassess traffic needs when that access is opened.
For now, residents on Birchwood and Doddington Roads face several months of altered journeys and peak-time congestion. Motorists are advised to allow extra time, seek alternative routes where possible and check local council updates for any changes to traffic management while the works continue.
