Grantham Southern Relief Road Delayed to Late 2027 Amid Ongoing Bridge Installation Challenges

The long-awaited Grantham Southern Relief Road (GSRR) in Lincolnshire faces further setbacks, with its opening now unlikely before late 2027.

The delay stems from persistent challenges linked to the installation of a critical bridge that will span both the East Coast Main Line (ECML) and the River Witham.

Background on the Project

The GSRR is a £100M+ infrastructure scheme designed to improve traffic flow in Grantham by providing a new 3.5km link between the A52 and the A1. The road is being delivered in three phases:

• Phase One: Completed in 2016.

• Phase Two: Completed in 2022.

• Phase Three: The final stage, designed by WSP and built by Galliford Try, involves the complex bridge crossing and final road connections.

The scheme is expected to ease chronic congestion in Grantham’s town centre, improve safety, and unlock new economic growth opportunities for the region.

The Bridge Problem

At the centre of the delay is a 293m-long, 2,500-tonne steel bridge. The original plan was to push the structure into position across the ECML and River Witham. However, earlier this year the method was deemed unsafe due to concerns about high wind conditions during the push.

In February 2025, the council acknowledged this would not only delay the project but also increase costs by £10M–£20M.

Temporary Guiding Structure

To overcome the issue, a new tubular steel guiding structure is being fabricated to attach to the front of the bridge deck, stabilising it as it is moved into place.

• The council initially said this structure would arrive by summer 2025.

• As of September, the delivery has slipped again, with arrival now expected in October.

• The final cost of the guiding structure remains under negotiation.

Once in place, the launch process is estimated to take six months, but this is heavily dependent on weather conditionsand agreement among suppliers on the detailed methodology.

Timeline for Completion

According to Cllr Michael Cheyne, Lincolnshire’s new executive member for highways:

“Once the bridge push does start, it will be approximately two years until the road can open. Please rest assured that I’ll be doing everything in my power to ensure this project doesn’t slip any further.”

This means that even under the best-case scenario of a bridge launch beginning in late 2025, the road will not open until late 2027.

After the bridge is installed, several tasks remain:

• Constructing the east-side bridge structure with additional steel beam lifts.

• Concreting bridge decks.

• Installing safety barriers and completing surfacing works.

• Carrying out embankment works on the western approach.

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Financial and Legal Fallout

Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed it is pursuing contractual and legal processes to recover costs from those responsible for the design error that caused the setback.

A council spokesperson said:

“The county council is still in the process of pursuing contractual and legal processes with a view to holding those responsible for the design error to account and recovering taxpayer money.”

Local Impact

The delays are expected to prolong congestion problems in Grantham, where heavy traffic through the town centre has long been a source of frustration for residents and businesses. While the relief road promises eventual economic and environmental benefits, the extended timeline risks undermining confidence in the project.

Community Perspective

Local businesses have voiced concern that continued delays could slow investment and job creation. One shop owner near the town centre said:

“We’ve been waiting years for this road to take pressure off Grantham. Every extra delay makes it harder for local traders who suffer from the traffic and pollution.”

Residents echoed these frustrations, with one commuter noting:

“It feels like we’re stuck in limbo. The town desperately needs this road, but 2027 feels like a lifetime away.”