Drivers of heavy lorries have been banned from passing through Towcester town centre in Northamptonshire from today, as a long-awaited new road officially opens.
National Highways has introduced a 7.5-tonne weight limit on part of the A5, meaning large vehicles must now avoid the town and use a new bypass instead.
The change came into force this week alongside the opening of the Towcester Relief Road, which links the A5 with the A43 just south of the town.
The new route, built by Persimmon Homes, is designed to take pressure off Towcester’s historic centre, where high traffic levels have caused problems for years.
National Highways said the A5 has faced “longstanding issues with the high levels of traffic passing through its historic town centre, causing environmental, safety and accessibility concerns to residents and businesses”.
Under the new rules, lorries over 7.5 tonnes are banned from a stretch of the A5 between the Old Tiffield Road junction and the Cowpastures Lane roundabout.
Instead, drivers are being directed onto the new relief road, with clear signage installed to guide traffic.
Officials explained the move will help cut congestion, reduce noise and improve air quality, while also making the town centre safer and more welcoming.
The new weight limit will prevent HGVs from entering the town centre
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NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The restriction has been brought in under a temporary traffic regulation order, with Andrew Jinks, Midlands Regional Director at National Highways, detailing how the completion of Persimmon’s relief road means “we can now go ahead with our plan for a weight restriction on the A5”.
He added: “This is the first phase of National Highways‘ work to address some of those concerns and find a solution to reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling along the A5 every day.”
Not all vehicles are affected by the ban. Emergency vehicles, buses and coaches, and recovery trucks responding to incidents are exempt.
Meanwhile, the agency detailed how lorries making local deliveries to homes, shops or businesses in Towcester can also still use the route.
The new road measures hope to reduce congestion near the town centre
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NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
There may also be times when restrictions are lifted temporarily, for example, if incidents or roadworks force traffic to be diverted.
The weight limit is part of a wider plan to improve the A5 through Towcester. National Highways said future work will include “new signage, shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists, new controlled crossing points along the A5 and resurfacing.”
The agency said it also wanted “to make Towcester’s high street an attractive place to visit” and “preserve Towcester’s rich history and identity”.
Councillor Richard Butler at West Northamptonshire Council said: “We’ve worked with the developer and National Highways to ensure they were able to deliver the new relief road, which will indeed be a relief for people living and working in Towcester town centre.”
HGVs will be banned from using the A5 route
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NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
“The bypass has the potential to take a significant number of heavy vehicles away from the high street, creating a cleaner and more pleasant environment,” he added.
Residents and businesses will get the chance to see more detailed plans later this year, with public information events expected to be held over the summer.
National Highways shared: “This TTRO forms part of wider improvement work we’re developing for the A5 through Towcester, which includes the introduction of new signage, shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists, new controlled crossing points along the A5 and resurfacing.
“We’re currently progressing the detailed design programme, and we’re planning to hold public information events this summer, giving residents and businesses the opportunity to view the designs and speak directly with the project team.”