Government funding of £70m has been announced to allow a new Lincolnshire road scheme to provide better links to the rest of eastern England.

The new A1073 will provide a strategic link and ensure that heavy goods vehicles and other through-traffic are offered a safer alternative to the current narrow and twisting route.

Main works on the new scheme are scheduled to begin next year.

The scheme will run parallel to the existing A1073 linking the A16 near Spalding to the A47 (T) and the A15 (near Peterborough), bypassing a number of local settlements.

The scheme also includes junction improvements, provision for non-motorised users, traffic calming along the existing A1073 and environmental mitigation works.