Home / Weather / Lincolnshire Roads Buckle Under Drought's Grip
Lincolnshire Roads Buckle Under Drought's Grip
12 Dec
Summary
- Extreme summer drought caused significant road movement and cracking.
- Road network was not designed for this level of drought-induced stress.
- Barrier Bank remains closed due to extensive, unexpected damage.
Lincolnshire's road network has experienced severe structural issues this year, largely attributed to one of the driest summers on record. A report from the county council's highways department reveals that the infrastructure was not engineered to withstand the intense drought conditions, resulting in "significant movement" across numerous roads.
Even A-roads, typically more robust, have shown signs of cracking and distress. The situation escalated at Barrier Bank in Crowland, which has been impassable since September. Initial hopes for quick temporary repairs were dashed when the extent of the damage was found to be far worse than anticipated, prompting a full investigation into potential solutions.
The council has undertaken widespread repairs, including crack sealing and patching, but 46 sites have recorded serious damage like "cracking, abrupt level differences and undulation." Some seriously damaged sections will necessitate "full reconstruction and substantially higher investment," with councillors set to discuss the extensive problem soon.
