A major road in Boston, Lincolnshire will be closed next month to allow Network Rail to upgrade a level crossing to improve reliability for key freight services travelling to and from the town’s port.

A section of the A16 Spalding Road will be closed from 7 pm on Saturday, 11th June until 2 pm on Sunday,12th June to allow engineers to safely replace over 140 metres of rail through the Boston Bypass level crossing.

Engineers will work through the night to ensure the road is ready to reopen for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists as soon as the upgrade is complete. During the closure, a signed diversion will be in place to help people get to their destinations.

Vincent Briggs, East Midlands Route Level Crossing Manager for Network Rail, said:

“This essential work will allow us to reliably transport vital freight goods to and from the town’s port for many years to come.

“We will need to close a major road into Boston to complete the upgrade safely, and I’m sorry for any inconvenience this causes. We’ll be doing the work overnight and have worked with Lincolnshire County Council to keep the impact as low as possible.”

Andy Lawrence, Port of Boston Director for Victoria Group, added:

“The Port of Boston are delighted that the upgrade is taking place. It is great for the network connection we have from the Port of Boston and the 260,000 tonnes a year of cargo that we put over it. This enables us to keep lorries off the road and dramatically reducing our carbon footprint by utilising rail.

“Rail Freight was important for the Port in 1884, when it was built, and it remains equally, if not more important in 2022, and the future, as we strive to divert even more cargo to the rail mode of transport, direct from a seaport.”