Kettering junction improvements to start soon
Parking, roads and transport07 October 2021
Work will start soon on improvements to two junctions in Kettering, which will also help cater for new housing development to the east of the town.
The North Northamptonshire Council scheme will focus on:
- The intersection of Barton Road and Windmill Avenue
- The intersection of London Road, Pytchley Road and Barton Road
Both of these junctions currently experience delays and congestion during the morning and evening peak periods which will only worsen as the development grows.
The work will see extended left turn lanes on Windmill Avenue and Barton Road (at the intersection of Barton Road and Windmill Avenue) and an enlarged roundabout with wider approaches in place of the existing mini roundabout at London Road, Pytchley Road and Barton Road.
The existing traffic signals will also be upgraded, the highway resurfaced and new road markings applied.
The majority of the works will take place on weekdays between 8am and 5pm with temporary traffic signals installed to manage traffic.
The project will be done in three phases:
Phase one – Barton Road and Windmill Avenue junction - October 16, 2021 to December 2021
Phase two - London Road, Pytchley Road and Barton Road roundabout – January 2022 to February/March 2022
Phase three – overnight resurfacing work at both junctions – February/March 2022
Some weekend road closures are needed at the start of the project for preparation works with some further overnight road closures towards the end of the works, so resurfacing can take place.
It is regretted that preparation works will also necessitate the removal of some trees. However, once complete, the scheme will see the addition of 115 trees planted and maintained for the benefit of the community.
Preparation works - road closures
Windmill Avenue – Preparation works - Saturday, October 16 (8am) to Sunday, October 17 (5pm) - with the diversion using Deeble Road and Warkton Lane.
Windmill Avenue - Saturday, October 23, 8am to 5pm
Barton Road - Saturday, October 23 (8am) to Sunday, October 24 (5pm) – with the diversion using the A14 junction 9 to 10 and the A509.
The main, phase one, works will start on site on Monday, October 18.
We welcome the growth to the east of Kettering and the associated benefits that this brings in boosting the local economy but It’s essential that we have the right infrastructure in place to allow this to happen.Cllr David Brackenbury, the council’s executive member for growth and regeneration
This project allows us to make those vital improvements to the road network and once complete, make people’s journeys easier.
Without the works the local road network and consequently the lives of local residents would be detrimentally affected.Cllr Jason Smithers. Leader of the Council
This is a great use of developer contributions to make sure that we balance much needed growth with associated improvements to transport infrastructure.
Access will be permitted into Wickstead Park from the junction with Warkton Lane during the weekend closures, while access will not be affected during the main works.
The work, being delivered by Northamptonshire Highways, is being paid for by contributions from the developer of the Hanwood Park site – through a Section 106 agreement with no additional funding required from the council.
The development comprises 5,500 houses as well as schools, healthcare, commercial properties, employment land and open space.