'Disgraceful' Corby carriageway to close for overnight repairs to potholed Steel Road

Steel Road, built when the steelworks closed to link up the new industrial areas of the town, is beset by a poor surface and potholes, which are regularly dodged by motorists, with one report to North Northants Council saying the surface is ‘a disgrace.’

From this evening (Tuesday, May 26), the road will be closed from 8pm for the first night of repairs with work lasting until Friday, June 12.

A statement from North Northants Highways said: “Due to the nature of the works, Steel Road will be operating under a road closure between the hours of 8pm to 6am during the programme.

“Whilst access assistance will be provided where reasonably practicable, this will be heavily dependent on the phase of works taking place at the time. There will be periods — particularly during surfacing operations and junction works — where vehicle access through the closure will not be possible.

"We would therefore encourage businesses, residents, and visitors to plan ahead.

"We appreciate your patience and cooperation whilst these essential highway improvement works are carried out.”

The scheme will be delivered in phases, with works including:

• Binder course resurfacing - Tuesday, May 26 to Tuesday, June 2

• Surface course resurfacing - Wednesday, June 3 to Tuesday, June 9

• Road markings and high friction surfacing - Wednesday, June 10 to Friday, June 12

Full scheme information can be viewed here.

Last summer, Steel Road was dubbed a ‘hell hole’ after motorists encountered deep potholes in the road. Since then, patch repairs have been undertaken.

In January, North Northamptonshire Council carried out emergency repairs to ‘address the most urgent defects’ to keep the road safe and serviceable.

They said they remained committed to maintaining Steel Road and planning for its future resilience with their focus on ensuring Steel Road remains ‘safe and fit for purpose’.