The authority responsible for the major crossroads improvement work in Ruddington, which is set to continue into next year, is apologising to drivers who have complained about the unacceptable hold-ups caused by the current 4-way temporary traffic lights there.
Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) says it’s sorry to hear about those experiencing significant disruption and delay due to the roadworks currently taking place at the junction of the A60 Loughborough Road, Kirk Lane and Flawforth Lane. These works, to add extra turning lanes there, started in July, and have been causing peak time problems in Ruddington ever since.
An NCC spokesman explains: “These works are being undertaken by various contractors for William Davis, Avant Homes and Vistry Group to improve the junction, as a requirement of the planning permissions for various housing developments in and around the village, due to the associated traffic generation. The works are complex, with diversions of electricity, gas and water mains and telecommunications cables required, prior to road widening, and some disruption will be inevitable.”
He adds: “We have been made aware of the significant impacts on Mere Way and a number of steps were taken promptly to ensure that the temporary signals were operating as efficiently as possible. We have also met with many of the businesses on Mere Way, together with representatives from the works promoters and contractors, to understand the impacts and investigate further mitigation.”
Village photographer Paul Witney (who provided the illustrative shots above) says one of those additional impacts is that “Mere Way Industrial Estate employees are now clogging up Elms Park by using it as a Park & Walk!”
Public transport users have also complained about serious delays to Kinchbus 9 through the junction and, almost daily, Nottingham City Transport’s Green 10C service has been stopping short of Ruddington Fields Business Park due to the serious congestion in the area.
NCC says: “Via’s coordination team visited the site and have asked Severn Trent Water to make some changes to the traffic management to help improve traffic flows. They’ll continue to monitor the works to help keep traffic flowing as possible.”
With the water main pipe replacement work by Severn Trent scheduled to continue until Friday 19th January 2024, followed by other associated works until Sunday 31st March 2024, road and bus users will be hoping these changes in traffic management can make a significant difference!
You can find RUDDINGTON.info’s full list of current and forthcoming Ruddington highway works >>HERE<<.
