More than £49.5 million improvements for East Midlands before Christmas
Drivers in the East Midlands will benefit from £49,526,470 road improvements between now and Christmas (October to December 2014).
This is the value of work either beginning or already taking place on the Highways Agency’s regional network in the run up to Christmas, with completion dates varying depending on the length of each scheme.
The focus of the work will be on improving safety and increasing the capacity of roads to help ease congestion and ensure better journey experiences across some of the East Midlands’ busiest roads. In addition, more than 110 miles of motorways and major A roads will benefit from resurfacing and improvements to signage and road markings.
Tim Harbot, Midlands Director for the Highways Agency, said:
This is really good news for road users across the East Midlands because it will ultimately mean less congestion, more reliable journey times and improved safety. Record amounts of money are being invested in roads – that inevitably means more roadworks, but for every scheme we deliver there will be an improvement for drivers.
We are well aware of how frustrating roadworks can be to motorists – but I would like to reassure everyone that all our work is planned very carefully to cause as little disruption as possible. Some is inevitable – and we ask for drivers’ cooperation while the improvements are carried out.
Nationally, every day some four million vehicles use roads managed by the Highways Agency, that’s one third of all traffic; and around 80 per cent of all goods travel by road, with two thirds of large goods vehicles.
In the East Midlands work is being carried out on several significant schemes:
- The A453 widening scheme in Nottinghamshire will improve safety and accessibility around the road, particularly for non-motorist road users and reduce congestion. Work involves building new sections of road to enhance the flow of traffic. The improvements will also bring economic benefits to the region. Work is expected to end next year.
- Improvements to the M1 at junction 19 at Catthorpe will provide free-flow links for the major turning movements whilst retaining the M1 on its current alignment, and allow free-flow traffic to pass between the M6 and A14 under the M1. It includes a three-level interchange, and requires construction of six new bridges and the demolition of two existing bridges.
- The Elkesley junction improvement scheme on the A14 in Nottinghamshire will improve connections between Elkesley and the local road network, improve journey times for all A1 road users by making it easier to join or leave the A1 and will improve safety.
A further two schemes are currently taking place specifically aimed at supporting local developments, relieving congestion and improving safety in the region. They are:
- A pinch point scheme on the M1 junction 24 involving a building a new link road between the A50 and A453 to improve accessibility between the A50 and Kegworth and reduce traffic travelling from the A50 to the M1 southbound from the circulatory carriageway.
- A separate pinch point scheme at the A38 Markeaton roundabout in Derbyshire is due to be completed in November. Work involves widening the approaches and the roundabout as well as updating the traffic signals at this busy junction.
During any roadworks drivers are advised to plan their journeys and allow more for travel. Drivers can get up-to-the-minute travel information by phoning the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or by accessing the Agency’s website: www.highways.gov.uk/traffic
Drivers can also download the Highways Agency’s iPhone app or follow updates via Twitter at @HAtraffic_emids.
Further information regarding current and planned roadworks in the East Midlands plus neighbouring regions can be found on the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk/roads
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.