Overnight road closures of the A1 will start this week for vital works on the £102 million Grantham Southern Relief Road.

The A1 will be closed in both directions overnight to allow the final 14+ tonne bridge beams to be delivered and lifted into place.

A full night-time closure of the southbound A1, between Harlaxton and Little Ponton, 8pm to 6am, will be in place starting on Wednesday 10 February for seven evenings (subject to suitable weather). The diversion route will be using the A607 at Harlaxton to the A606 to A1 at Stamford.

Lincolnshire County Council says the first three nights of work will see the delivery and installation of the final 14-tonne and 20-tonne bridge beams for the new A1 connection to the B1174.

The final two nights of southbound closures, along with three evenings of night-time closures on the A1 northbound between Little Ponton and Harlaxton, starting Wednesday 17 February, will allow Galliford Try the opportunity to safely carry out additional works close to the A1.

The diversion route for the northbound closures will be using the A606 at Stamford to A607 to A1 at Harlaxton.

Cllr Richard Davies, Executive Member for Highways, said: "The concrete bridge beams being delivered and installed are key components of Grantham's new relief road.

"As part of this work, a 250-tonne crane will be set-up on-site to lift the beams off the delivery lorries and into place.

"Once in place, Galliford Try can make a start on building the new bridge deck ahead of finishing the second half of the A1's new connection with the B1174 and completing phase two this summer.

"We'll be working closely with Highways England to minimise disruption, including making sure the A1 is open during the day. This is an incredibly important part of the relief road project, so I want to thank everyone in advance for their patience."

The Grantham Southern Relief Road project is being led by Lincolnshire County Council and supported by South Kesteven District Council, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Highways England, Department for Transport, Network Rail, Homes England and local businesses.

• Lincolnshire County Council has also issued the following update- as shown below- on the progress made on the road in January and what is due this month.

"The final 14-tonne and 20-tonne bridge beams for the new A1 connection to the B1174 will be lifted into place later this month What we achieved in January

Continued drainage works and earthworks across the entire site

Completed kerbing works at the eastern roundabout

Completed pile cropping / started steel and concrete works for second half of new A1 bridge

Continued Phase Three Anglian Water watermain diversion and BT ducting

Continued post-excavation archaeological reporting

What's happening in February Install the final 14-tonne and 20-tonne bridge beams for the new A1/B1174 connection Continue steel and concrete works to the new A1/B1174 connection Continue drainage works and earthworks across the entire site Continue kerbing across the site, including starting works at the western side of the site Begin road surfacing works a the eastern roundabout Carry out essential drainage and ducting works to the A1 Continue Phase Three Anglian Water watermain / sewer diversions and BT ducting Continue post-excavation archaeological reporting

Upcoming traffic restrictions and closures

Full night-time closure on the southbound A1 between Harlaxton and Little Ponton from 8pm to 6am

Wednesday 10 February to Sunday 14 February for five evenings

Diversion via the A607 at Harlaxton to the A606 to A1 at Stamford.

Southbound A1 lane closure from Monday 8 February to Wednesday 10 February

Northbound A1 lane closure from Wednesday 10 February to Friday 12 February

Current/ongoing traffic restrictions and closures

50mph speed limit and narrowed lanes on the A1 between Harlaxton to Little Ponton."

For the latest news on the Grantham Southern Relief Road, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/majorprojects.