Highway improvements to the Sincil Bank area of Lincoln are on target to finish in March.

 Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “We started work in Sincil Bank last September and, since then, the team’s laid new footway and has been preparing the road for the new cycle way that will stretch from the entrance to Lincoln City Football Club’s LNER Stadium and Kesteven Street.

 “Over the next couple of weeks, the focus will be on completing footway and carriageway surfacing works at the back of the football ground; resurfacing a section of footway on Scorer Street; and laying the final cycle way surfacing along Sincil Bank. This is ahead of implementing the new one-way system in the area by the middle of March.”

Road layout changes to Sincil Bank and the surrounding area

In addition to the new southbound one-way order on Sincil Bank (between Scorer Street and Sausthorpe Street, and between Kirkby Street and Portland Street), these other changes will be made to the current layout in the immediate area:

  • A reversal of the current southbound one-way order on Cross Street (between Portland Street and Scorer Street)
  • A new westbound one-way order on a section of Portland Street (between Kesteven Street and Cross Street)

Aesthetic updates to Sincil Bank

Additional works to update the area’s aesthetic will be carried out once the highways works are complete in March. These will be carried out with minimal traffic management.

Among the proposed changes are:

  • installing planters
  • planting a variety of trees and shrubs
  • creating and installing gateway signage
  • installing new decorative gates between South Park Avenue and Sincil Bank
  • creating a community garden at the corner of Portland Street and Canwick Road

City of Lincoln Council will also be continuing to work with local artists in the coming months to create a series of community murals throughout the Sincil Bank area.

Cllr Davies added: “Despite our highways works finishing next month, there will still be more to do in the area to really make it feel fresh and reinvigorated. This work will include installing planters, planting trees and other shrubs, and adding ‘gateway’ signage to create a stronger sense of community and to make the area more welcoming.

“These works will be carried out over the coming months, so that they’re ready to enjoy this summer.”

Project facts and figures

When complete, the highways portion of the Sincil Bank rejuvenation works will have seen:

  • Nearly 11,000 hours on the project
  • Over half a mile of new kerbing laid
  • Over a mile of old footpath rebuilt
  • Nearly a quarter-mile of new cycle way built
  • Roughly 350 tonnes of footway building material used
  • Ten new drainage gulleys built, along with new drainage connections
  • Eleven new roadside buildouts constructed to create space for planting

Cllr Davies added: “When finished, this joint project between us and City of Lincoln Council will help tackle accessibility and rat-running issues within Sincil Bank, which will hopefully lead to a better quality of life for residents while also making central Lincoln more attractive for future investment.”

City of Lincoln Council Leader, Councillor Naomi Tweddle, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Sincil Bank improvements progressing so well. These changes will not only enhance the look and feel of the area but also improve accessibility and sustainability for our residents.

“Through the Be Lincoln Town Deal and our partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, we remain committed to greening our city and making Lincoln an even better place to live, work, and visit. By introducing more trees, plants, and green spaces, we are not only enhancing the city’s biodiversity but also improving air quality and creating a healthier environment for everyone.

“The addition of green spaces, aesthetic improvements, and more pedestrian-friendly streets will foster a more welcoming community and create an uplifting environment for everyone in the area.

“We’re excited to see how the transformation continues to take shape over the coming months.”

The project will cost £3 million and is being funded by a portion of the £19 million of Lincoln Town Deal funding awarded to the City of Lincoln in 2020 by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

For more information about the project, including an artist’s illustration of the completed scheme, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/sincilbankimprovements.