02-06-2025
‘Bridge to nowhere' costs council £50m
A council has spent £50 million on a 'bridge to nowhere' after running out of money to make the connecting road.
Lincolnshire county council has confirmed its latest budget falls short of the estimated cost to complete the planned Spalding Western Relief Road.
The bridge, completed last year and crossing over the East Coast Mainline, was built as part of the £110 million project to ease traffic on the A16.
But aerial pictures show the route comes to an abrupt stop, and the project will not be finished until at least 2030 because the council cannot afford to complete it sooner.
In its 2025-26 budget, the authority has earmarked £27.7 million towards building the southern section of the road, but this falls short of the estimated cost of £50-£60 million.
A spokesman for the council said: 'Construction of the north section of the Spalding Western Relief Road was completed in October 2024.
'In the approved 2025-26 council budget, there is currently £27.7 million earmarked towards building the southern section of the road in the future.
'However, the current estimated cost of building this section is between £50-60 million, which means external funding will be needed.
'That is why we are continuing to work closely with South Holland district council to identify funding opportunities, including remaining in touch with Homes England.
'In addition, no funding has yet been allocated or secured for the middle sections of the relief road as these are intended to be built in the long-term.'
The council also said the northern section of the relief road had opened up land allocated for housing in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan, an initial 1,100 homes.
It also said a new roundabout had already unlocked land for housing on either side of the railway and a significant start had been made on-site, with these homes soon to be added to the available housing stock.
