Apology follows diversion misery

Another overnight closure of the A1 northbound is planned in October

The Highways Agency is apologising to drivers over a 60-mile diversion on the A1 in Lincolnshire at the weekend.

Cars were diverted along rural roads as improvements were made to a 10-mile stretch of the A1 north near Grantham.

One driver said he drove for 20 miles only to be brought back to the roundabout where he started.

The Highways Agency said it will ensure the same thing does not happen again during a second overnight closure of the A1 northbound in October.

Frustrated drivers

Motorist Tom Green said: "There seemed to be no way of getting north so the diversion was essentially a 20-mile loop.

"The journey took me four and a half hours so it added two, to two-and-a-half hours to my journey."

Highways Agency route manager Graham Littlechild said: "We certainly checked with all our contractors out on site and they assure me that all the appropriate signs were out there that night.

"All I can do is apologise to those motorists and to say if they wish to write in directly to the Highways Agency, give us a bit more information about their journey and what happened to them and we will certainly look to try and get an explanation to them."

He said last weekend's closure was for the installation of safety barriers, but pledged that their removal in October would not be so difficult for motorists to negotiate.