The Department for Transport (DfT)is set to invest £24 million into a Nottingham road scheme that will reduce journey times, improve access and supporting a home-building programme.
Nottinghamshire will benefit from the government funding, providing vital junction upgrades along an 18-mile stretch of the A614 and A6097 to slash journey times and provide a major boost to the local economy.
The upgrades will take place along the main north-south local route through the county, and will support the construction of 1,330 new homes by boosting access to development sites. This includes 800 new homes at the Thoresby Colliery development, where the works will also support new jobs, as well as a new primary school, shops and leisure facilities and a local community centre.
The congestion-easing scheme will also dramatically improve access for millions of visitors to key local tourist attractions, including Sherwood Forest, Clumber Park and Rufford Abbey, all of which are major contributors to the local economy.
The announcement comes as the government continues its drive to build back better from the pandemic and level up transport links to boost regional economies right across the country.
Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “Road-users in Nottinghamshire deserve quicker, easier and better journeys, and I am all too aware of congestion issues along this key route.
“Our multimillion-pound investment tackles the issue head-on. This scheme will dramatically cut congestion, support the construction of more than 1,000 new homes and provide a real boost to the local economy as we build back better from the pandemic and level up transport for everyone across the country.”
Councillor Keith Girling, Chairman of the Economic Development and Asset Management Committee, said: “This ambitious £28.6 million project has been a top priority for the County Council for some time and I am delighted to see that it is now all systems go. The scheme will support planned housing developments along the route in Bilsthorpe, Ollerton and Edwinstowe, reduce peak period traffic congestion for the benefit of commuters and local businesses, and improve road safety for all users. I would like to thank all of those people who have been involved in the recent consultation activity and helped us to get to this point.”
Works will see important upgrades made to 6 junctions along the route to ease congestion, including new traffic signals at Kirk Hill, a new junction at Mickledale Lane, bigger roundabouts at Lowdham and Ollerton, as well as an improved gyratory at Warren Hill.
It is not just motorists who will benefit from the works. Pedestrians and cyclists are also set to enjoy safer journeys with new toucan crossings at Ollerton and Lowdham roundabouts, supporting those who opt for more active forms of travel as we also build back greener.
The total cost of the scheme comes to £28.6 million, with Nottinghamshire County Council providing the remaining funds following the Department for Transport’s multimillion-pound contribution.
The announcement is the latest boost for transport in the region, following £169 million being invested from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund into public and sustainable transport infrastructure throughout Nottingham and Derby.
