Improvements to the Boongate roundabout, at the junction of the A1139 Frank Perkins Parkway and Fletton Parkway, are taking place over the next four weeks.

But anxious to avoid a repeat of the rush-hour traffic chaos seen as engineering work commenced on the Nene Parkway last week, Peterborough City Council is limiting the scheme's working hours to off-peak times.

The council's cabinet member for the environment, Wayne Fitzgerald, said the decision to restrict work from 9.30am until 3.30pm was for the benefit of drivers.

He said: "No one likes roadworks, myself included, but they are a necessary fact of life.

"We are mindful of certain traffic problems around the city, and the work schedule is a positive measure to help the public have as easy a journey as possible."


Bid to improve access
Work on the city's Boongate roundabout will improve access from all directions.

Improvement work is being carried out at the key roundabout, which inter- sects Fletton Parkway and Frank Perkins Parkway.

Lane closures will be in place daily, from 9.30am until 3.30pm, with work scheduled to continue until Friday, October 17.


However, when work at Boongate began yesterday, there were some tailbacks on the Fletton Parkway approaching what is one of the busiest roundabout intersections in the city. The works are scheduled to run until Friday, October 17.

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The scheme involves the widening of the approach roads Boongate West, Boongate East and Carr Road, as well as the installation of new signs.

For the duration of the work, there will be lane closures in operation, but council officials say at least a single lane will be maintained at all times.

The start of the scheme comes a week after repair work began on part of the Nene Parkway and a section of the A1 north of the city was reduced to a single lane, causing severe delays for commuters.

Drivers complained of long rush-hour tailbacks caused by the lane restrictions and 40mph speed limit on Nene Thorpe Bridge, which are due to remain in place for another three weeks.

Another minor irritation for city motorists will come when overnight re-surfacing works are carried out at the Queensgate roundabout, in Bourges Boulevard, between Monday and Thursday of next week.

Meanwhile, traffic misery continued on the A1 last night, with a contraflow system restricting both sides of the dual carriageway to a single lane while work takes place to improve the Carpenter's Lodge roundabout, near Stamford.

Further roadworks are being planned at the Thomas Cook roundabout, where the Nene Parkway joins the A47, for traffic lights to be installed at the end of October.