Commuters set for Nottingham traffic delays as roadworks kick off

Roadworks are due to start today in the Broadmarsh area of Nottingham city centre in preparation for the next stages of the Broadmarsh regeneration programme later in the year.

Nottingham City Council says works will take place outside peak travel times between 9.30am–3.30pm seven days a week to minimise disruption on busy roads.

The road improvements begin on London Road and Queensbridge Road/Sheriffs Way on Tuesday 2 May, each section taking around six weeks to complete:

The London Road improvements involve widening the road to three lanes for traffic leaving London Road roundabout heading towards Trent Bridge. This will allow a better flow of traffic from the roundabout to the Southern Relief Route and other routes once major roadworks start later in the year.

The Queensbridge Road and Sheriffs Way alterations will create a new feeder rank to provide better access for taxis to the Queen’s Road rank at Nottingham Station.

Work will also take place to prevent drivers heading west along Queen’s Road from turning right into the station drop-off point. This, says the Council, will help to maintain traffic flow, along with the work the council has recently done to create a red route on Queen’s Road. Drivers will still be able to turn right on Queen’s Road to access the 30 minute free drop off facility at Nottingham Station Car Park.

Changes will take place on Canal Street at its junction with Middle Hill from Monday 8 May, lasting around eight weeks. This will increase the size of the pedestrian island, and reduce the number of westbound lanes to two in line with the rest of Canal Street from the roundabout.

The junction will also be altered so that traffic on Canal Street must give way to traffic from Middle Hill, as traffic signals on Middle Hill will be removed. Ramps will be introduced in both directions on Canal Street to slow traffic ahead of a new signalled pedestrian crossing. Works will pause for Nottingham Forest’s final home game of the season on Sunday 7 May.

Councillor Nick McDonald, portfolio holder for business, growth and transport, said: “We have significant changes planned for roads, routes and traffic signals around the city in preparation for the impending Broadmarsh works. To allow people to visit their families, commute and go shopping, the council is adapting routes like these so that traffic will still flow normally and routes will be easy to follow when the Broadmarsh works begin in earnest.

“The closures will be off-peak to help people go about their day as normal, and so aren’t expected to cause the sort of disruption motorists experienced when Canal Street had to be closed for emergency National Grid works. However, motorists are advised that delays are still possible and to plan their journey accordingly.

“The works on the Broadmarsh area are the most significant the council has undertaken in the city centre in a very long time , so it’s right that we make sure we prepare the routes in and around the city centre for works of this scale so that people can still get around.”

The Broadmarsh redevelopment scheme will see £250m invested in the area, creating a pedestrianised and pedestrian friendly area between intu Broadmarsh and Nottingham Station and improving the bus station and car park. It is expected to boost the economy by £1.1bn a decade with 2,900 more jobs, attracting three million more visitors and bringing £25m extra spend to the city a year.