It seems 2024 is set to be just as difficult as 2023 has been for motorists trying to get into, out of, or through our busy village in a timely fashion; with a much used access road being SHUT for almost three months.
Ever since long-overdue junction layout improvements and new utility installations at Ruddington’s Kirk Lane/Loughborough Road/Flawforth Lane crossroads finally began in July, their 4-way temporary signals have continued to cause frustration. Frequent peak-time hold-ups for motorists and disrupted bus services even prompted an apology from Nottinghamshire Counry Council (NCC). This ‘first’ phase for pipe laying work by Severn Trent Water continues until Friday 19th January 2024.
Unfortunately, that’s far from the end of the story, as it’s been revealed the NEXT phase of the work involves the CLOSURE of Flawforth Lane from Monday 22nd January right the way through until Friday 12th April 2024 for Cadent Gas to do its stuff. Last time Flawforth Lane was closed for this long the new Blacksmith’s Green housing development didn’t even exist – so now even more Ruddington residents will have a long detour to drive into our village centre. The only ‘silver lining’ is that the current 4-way temporary traffic lights at the junction will then become only 3-way, hopefully easing the Loughborough Road/Kirk Lane traffic queues a little.
This Cadent schedule assumes Severn Trent completes its work on time. Frequent concerns are expressed by villagers and those passing through about the painfully slow progress, and significant periods when no workers have been visible at the site. Mark Clemens comments: “We have a new game we play on a daily basis called ‘working or not working’? Needless to say that the ‘not working’ team is heading the league…”
Meantime, another notable date for your diary is this Saturday 2nd December 2023 when both High Street and Church Street will be closed to traffic from midnight until around 10pm on the day to facilitate the holding of the annual Ruddington Christmas Market. However, local diversions will be put in place with additional event parking at Clifton Park ‘n’ Ride and a shuttle bus being provided from there for visitors.
On Tuesday 12th December Old Loughborough Road will be closed during the day from its junction with Landmere Lane to its junction with A60 Loughborough Road for pothole repairs previously postponed due to bad weather. Whilst access will be maintained for residents and work vehicles whenever possible, other drivers are asked to use the diversionary route via A60 Loughborough Road, the A52, and Landmere Lane – and vice versa – as shown below.
For easier reference, the FULL list of scheduled Ruddington roadworks liable to cause disruption of which we are aware currently is below:-
Monday 14th August 2023 until Sunday 31st March 2024 – major work at the Kirk Lane/Loughborough Road/Flawforth Lane crossroads – for junction renovation including diversions of utility services, resulting from s278 agreement with developers – various contractors including Severn Trent Water, Cadent Gas, National Grid, Virgin Media & BT Openreach.
Saturday 2nd December 2023 midnight until 10.00pm – closure of High Street and Church Street to traffic plus ‘no parking’ restrictions to facilitate Day 3 of Ruddington Christmas Market.
Tuesday 12th December 8.00am to 3.30pm – closure of Old Loughborough Road from its junction with Landmere Lane to its junction with A60 Loughborough Road (see map below) – Nottinghamshire County Council Highways pothole repairs.
Monday 22nd January 2024 – Friday 12th April 2024 – total closure of Flawforth Lane near its junction with Loughborough Road – for Cadent Gas utility diversions.
Friday 2nd February 2024 – 9.30am to 3.30pm – multi-way signals on High Street – work by BT Openreach
And there’s more…
As we previously reported, following a number of gas leaks in recent years, including one recently needing more emergency repairs, Cadent Gas also needs to carry out substantial further work on Wilford Road to replace the troublesome old iron gas main under ‘Dutton’s Hill’ with a “more durable” plastic pipe. However, this has been postponed by VIA East Midlands until other disruptive work in Ruddington is finished… meaning it’s now likely to be carried out sometime mid-2024.
Looking further into next year, National Highways has previously announced the long planned major roadworks to enlarge both the Nottingham Knight Island and Wheatcroft Island on the A52 should begin in September 2024. Find more details >>HERE<<.
Residents and visitors should anticipate delays and diversions for motorists, and also for passengers using Kinchbus 9, Nottingham City Transport’s Navy 3 & Green 10/10C/10X buses and the NottsBus Connect Service 863 during these roadworks.
RUDDINGTON.info will bring you details of further village roadworks as we receive them.
{PLEASE NOTE: The information above is subject to potential change and updates due to the weather and other operational reasons. We will provide timely revisions, here on our website, whenever we can. LAST UPDATE: Friday 1st December 2023.}
