Roadworks will start next week in Nottingham city centre in preparation for the next stages of the Broadmarsh redevelopment programme.
The City Council says the works will improve traffic and pedestrian flow in preparation for the regeneration scheme and will be done outside peak travel times – between 9.30am–3.30pm seven days a week to minimise disruption on busy roads.
Motorists should be able to “go about their day as normal”, the council said, but warned there could be some disruption while the works are operational outside of rush-hour.
The roadworks begin on London Road and Queensbridge Road/Sheriffs Way on Tuesday (May 2). Each section will take 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.
The Queensbridge Road and Sheriffs Way changes 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 stop drivers heading west along Queen’s Road from turning right into the station drop-off point.
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 also take place on Canal Street at its junction with Middle Hill from Monday, May 8 and last 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, May 7.
Nick McDonald, the council’s portfolio holder for transport, said: “We have significant changes planned for roads, routes and traffic signals around the city in preparation for the impending Broadmarsh works.
“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 Broadmarsh redevelopment scheme will see £250 million invested in the area.
It is expected to boost the economy by £1.1 billion a decade with 2,900 more jobs, attracting three million more visitors and bringing £25 million extra spend to the city a year.
