Manual traffic lights now help ease congestion at the Charterholme junction in Lincoln. The changes came after residents reported long queues during peak times on Doddington Road and surrounding routes.
The signalised junction upgrade at Birchwood Avenue and Doddington Road has to be in place before the 100th house in the Charterholme development is occupied. With new homeowners already moving in, the roadworks could not be delayed until completion of the wider spine road through the site.
Eight days, two junctions updated
Work started on 5 October 2026 with the introduction of temporary traffic signals. City of Lincoln Council and Lindum Group monitored traffic flows closely after initial complaints.
From 16 October, temporary lights were adjusted. Additional manually controlled signals now operate at the Pershore Way and Doddington Road junction during morning and afternoon rush hours. These aim to maintain better traffic flow along diversion routes.
Planning limits push progress
Lincolnshire County Council, the local highway authority, set clear planning conditions for the Charterholme development.
The upgraded junction must be operational by the time 100 homes are occupied, with the full spine road due by the 600th. These conditions ensure the local road network’s capacity keeps pace with new traffic from the housing development.
The new signalised junction is designed to improve capacity and safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, the city council says.
Closures and communication
The county council has approved road closures and diversion routes needed for the continuing work. All closures will be announced in advance with diversion maps supplied via the Charterholme newsletter, website and social media.
Residents’ concerns heard
Cllr Joshua Wells, City of Lincoln Council’s Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth, acknowledged the disruption caused by the works.
“We have listened to concerns about the congestion these works have caused,” he said. “We explored whether the schemes could be changed or delayed but were told the junction improvements must proceed as planned.”
Such planning-linked infrastructure upgrades are common on large housing sites to ensure road networks keep up with growing demand.
The council has not shared the total cost of the junction works or specific dates for future closures.
Residents and local businesses can contact the site team on 01535 331910 for updates. A previous report covered another £1.9 million highway improvement project at a different Lincoln junction.
