A17 overnight closures for road improvement works to last for 10 weeks between Byards Leap and Holdingham Roundabout near Sleaford with diversion via Newark and Lincoln

Work to improve a road is set to get under way from tonight and motorists will be told to follow a near 50-mile diversion route.

Ten weeks of major road improvements are planned to reconstruct a section of A17 between Byards Leap and Holdingham Roundabout near Sleaford — which will start today.

The road will be closed from 7pm to 6am on weekday nights for up to ten weeks, subject to weather conditions.

A diversion route will be put in place by Lincolnshire County Council and will take motorists up the A15, around the A46 Lincoln Bypass, back down towards Winthorpe and the Newark Showground, and finally back onto the A17 towards Byards Leap.

Alternative diversion routes include:

• Main Street (heading south from the A17) at North Rauceby / Tom Lane / Rauceby Drove / A153 Grantham Road / A15
• Rauceby Lane (heading north from the A17) via College Road / B1429 Sleaford Road / A15

The council has also warned that some weekend working will be required from 7pm on Friday, April 21 until 6am on Monday, April 24.