The major work to reshape Ruddington’s busiest crossroads is set to cause significant disruption again from this Friday (7th June 2024) when four-way temporary traffic signals will be back in use at the Loughborough Road/Kirk Lane/Flawforth Lane junction. Now we’re being told these will be needed until Friday 8th November!
The unwelcome revelation by VIA East Midlands, that the expected completion date has been pushed back yet another four weeks, means the work to improve the layout of this increasingly busy village crossroads will ultimately have taken sixteen months. Since it began in July 2023 it’s caused major frustration for both villagers and visitors and now looks set to do so for a further five months.
Not only that, it’s planned that Flawforth Lane (pictured above) will be closed again for two months from Monday 29th July to Friday 20th September 2024. As well as this stoppage meaning a long way around for through-traffic, the residents and businesses along Flawforth Lane, Flawforth Avenue and the new Blacksmith’s Green estate will once more be faced with a considerable detour via the A60 and A52 to access their properties to and from Loughborough Road or our village centre, as shown below.
VIA is blaming the complexity of this particular highway project for it taking so long. Before the widening work could even begin, numerous contractors including Cadent Gas, Severn Trent Water, National Grid, Virgin Media and BT Openreach – had to be called in to install or reconfigure utility connections at the junction. Now this utilities work is mostly completed, the physical changes to the roads (illustrated below) can finally begin. This last stage involves the widening of the carriageway and footpaths on all approaches, which includes alterations to the traffic lights and street lighting.
The works are part of the s278 agreement between housebuilders William Davis Homes and Avant Homes, which have major developments still under construction in the village (along Loughborough Road and north of Asher Lane respectively).
Because all this necessary work won’t be completed until early November, it’s likely either to delay or clash with other major roadworks in and around Ruddington – notably to replace the leaky gas main under Dutton’s Hill* and the major roundabouts improvement work along the A52.**
Other significant highway work which is likely to cause disruption in Ruddington during the next couple of months is listed below:-
Sat 8th & Sun 9th June – 2-way traffic signals on Wilford Road under the A52 Clifton Boulevard bridge – National Highways conducting an inspection of both the northbound and southbound sides of the bridge.
Mon 17th June from 9.00am to 5.00pm – lane closure on Mere Way at its junction with the A60 Loughborough Road roundabout – O2 carrying out maintenance work with a ‘cherry picker’.
Wed 26th June to Monday 1st July – 24 hour temporary traffic lights on Clifton Road approx 50 metres east of its junction with Clifton Avenue – New domestic service installation by Cadent Gas.
Mon 15th & Tue 16th July from 9.30am to 3.30pm – stop/go boards during “core sampling” on Clifton Road and Clifton Lane; to determine road and pavement condition – Nottinghamshire County Council Highways.
8am on Mon 15th July to 5pm on Wed 17th July – closure of Parkyns Street to through traffic – Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Severn Trent Water.
8am on Monday 22nd July until 5pm on Wednesday 24th July – two way temporary signals on Wilford Road adjacent to Wilwell Cottage – new service connection by Severn Trent Water – with a 30MPH speed limit in force.
Looking further ahead…
*As we previously reported, following a number of gas leaks in recent years needing 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 not to be carried out until late in 2024.
**Also later in 2024, 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 earnest this September. Find more details >>HERE<<.
Residents and visitors should anticipate delays and diversions for motorists, and also disruption 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.
PLEASE NOTE: The information given above is subject to potential change and updates due to the weather and other operational reasons. RUDDINGTON.info will always endeavour to provide accurate information, and timely revisions here on our website, whenever we can. However we cannot be held responsible for any errors. {LAST UPDATE: Thursday 6th June 2024.}
