27/02/2026
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Work Confirmed to Connect Scunthorpe’s Southern M181 Junction to Town
Long-awaited plans to properly connect Scunthorpe’s southern M181 junction to the rest of the town have been confirmed, marking a major step forward for the area’s transport network.
A new link road will connect the M181 roundabout directly to Burringham Road, transforming what has long been a standalone junction into a fully functioning southern gateway into the town.
Once complete, motorists travelling from Ashby, Bottesford, Burringham, Yaddlethorpe and Messingham will benefit from a faster and more direct route to the motorway. The scheme is expected to significantly ease congestion at Berkeley Circle, improving traffic flow across Scunthorpe.
Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Rob Waltham, said the project delivers on a long-standing commitment.
“We said from the start this would be about creating a proper gateway into Scunthorpe – and that’s exactly what this does,” he said.
“Big infrastructure projects don’t appear overnight. They’re built in stages – and this is the one where people will see the biggest difference – it turns the plan into a working route.
“We made a promise to invest for the long term, and working with Cllr Walshe, who has championed this for a number of years, we’ve been able to keep it.”
The scheme will be delivered by Keepmoat, with work due to begin in the coming weeks. Funding comes via the Local Regeneration Fund programme, with the money confirmed in the council’s budget approved by Full Council on Tuesday 24 February.
The project represents the third major investment into the local motorway network in recent years and is the first significant scheme of its kind since the M181 was originally built in 1978.
Deputy leader and cabinet member for highways Neil Poole said the focus is on delivering real benefits for residents.
“Residents aren’t overly concerned about phases – they care about getting to work quicker, getting home easier and not sitting in traffic at Berkeley Circle,” he said.
“This link makes a real, practical difference. It gives communities in Ashby, Bottesford, Burringham and beyond a direct route to the motorway and takes pressure off the busiest junction in town.
“That’s what this is about – building the roads first so growth doesn’t mean gridlock.”
Construction is expected to bring visible progress on the ground in the coming weeks, with the completed route set to reshape how traffic moves in and out of southern Scunthorpe.
Below: The southern M181 roundabout during construction
