A453 Widening (M1 Junction 24 to A52 Nottingham)

Project status: Current

Region: Midlands

Start date: January 2013

End date: Between July – September 2015

Type: Major Scheme

Major Scheme

Part of our programme of improvements (value >10m)

Cost: £150m

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Start of Works

We began construction work to widen the A453 during the week commencing the 7 January 2013. Public exhibitions about the start of works were held at Clifton Leisure Centre on the 11th and 12th of January 2013 and at the Kegworth Whitehouse Hotel on the 13th January 2013.

You can:

Download a map of the route
Download a copy of the exhibition panels
Check the Journey Impact page for the latest information on how this may affect your journey

Advance works

Advance works were undertaken ahead of the main construction works. These included activities such as archaeology and ecology works, fencing and site clearance.

Noise Insulation

A link to the compulsory purchase and compensation booklets can be found below. Booklet 5 covers issues relating to noise insulation.

Compulsory purchase and compensation booklets (external website)

Made Orders

The scheme Orders were made in May 2012. Copies of the Compulsory Purchase Order, Side Roads Order and the Public Notices are available under Publications.

The Public Inquiry decision letter and Inspectors Report are available for you to view on the Department for Transport website: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/a453-improvement/

What is happening?

The scheme will upgrade a section of the A453 between the M1 and A52 by widening the urban section and upgrading the rural section to become a dual carriageway.

When and where is this happening?

Main construction began across the length of the scheme on the 7th January 2013 and we are planning to open the scheme to traffic in the second quarter (between July and September) of financial year 2015/16.

The scheme will widen the 5.5 mile (8.8km) rural section of the A453 from M1 Junction 24 to the new Clifton Mill Hill Roundabout to a dual carriageway, with grade separated junctions.

It will also widen the 1.5 mile (2.4km) urban section through Clifton from a two-lane single carriageway to a four-lane single carriageway (two lanes in each direction) with signalisation of the existing Crusader Roundabout and new signalised roundabout junctions at Green Lane and Farnborough Road.

Why is this happening and what will it cost?

The existing single-carriageway road between the M1 at Junction 24 and Nottingham has become increasingly congested; it carries up to 30,000 vehicles a day, has a poor safety record and poses maintenance difficulties. Widening (dualling) this section of the route has been one of the Region's top priorities. The estimated outturn cost of this scheme is £150 million.

How will the scheme be carried out?

Construction will take approximately 2½ years and working methods will be designed to have the least impact on local residents.

Rural Section

Between the M1 and the Thrumpton area, we will widen the A453 to the south by building an additional carriageway to the south of and alongside the existing road - a technique known as "parallel widening".

There will be new split-level junctions at Parkway Junction and West Leake Junction, replacing the existing at grade junctions. Between Thrumpton and Mill Hill, we will build the new dual carriageway away from the existing A453 to the south. Barton Lane (between the A453 and Nottingham Road) will be closed to traffic and will become a public bridleway and private means of access – there will be no direct vehicular access to the A453. The existing A453 between Thrumpton and Mill Hill will be de-trunked and become a local distributor road, linking to the new Mill Hill Roundabout and the West Leake Junction, providing access for Barton in Fabis and Thrumpton.

Urban Section

Between Mill Hill and Crusader Roundabout we will widen the existing road to the north, while allowing the most of the existing noise mound and tree screening to be retained. Fox Covert Lane will be realigned to run parallel with the A453 to join the existing road and link into the new Mill Hill Roundabout.

Crusader Roundabout will be re-modelled and controlled by traffic signals. At Green Lane junction we will widen the A453 to the south to avoid the Village Green. The junction will become a signalised roundabout. Grasby Walk will be improved to provide a new access road to properties fronting the A453.

Between Green Lane Junction and Farnborough Road Junction, we will widen the existing road to the north. The south entrance to Nottingham Trent University will be left-in/left-out, the middle entrance will be for pedestrians and cyclists only, whilst the north entrance will be signalised to allow all movements except for the right turn out.

There will be a new signalised roundabout at Farnborough Road Junction. All other direct vehicle accesses onto this section of the A453 will be left-in/left-out only.

What are the benefits?

The scheme will benefit everyone using the route between the M1 and Nottingham. It will improve safety, reduce congestion and make journeys more reliable for travellers and businesses in the region.

How do I find out more information ?

More information will be posted on this project page as it becomes available. You can subscribe to be alerted when updates are made.

If you have any queries about this project you should contact the Highways Agency Information Line by emailing ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk or calling 0300 123 5000.

Details of scheduled roadworks are provided to help you plan your journey. Please note that works are weather- and resource- dependent and may need to be cancelled at short notice. This information is not updated in real time so please check Traffic England for current traffic conditions. Diversion timings are approximate and act as a guide only.

Will there be roadworks?

Yes, major works to widen the A453 and improve its junctions with side roads are now ongoing until summer 2015.

From 28 May:

On the A453: There will be discrete overnight 300m lengths of single lane alternate running under temporary traffic light control at the Farnborough Road junction in Clifton and up to three locations in the rural area each night, to continue construction of service diversions, trial holes and temporary safety barrier construction. These works will take place from 8pm to 5.30am on Tuesday to Friday. (There is no overnight traffic management planned for Mon 27th/Tues 28th)

We are also continuing works alongside the road on:

Earthworks
Bridge works
Service diversions.

These works will now include hauling earth in lorries along the existing A453 carriageway, and weekend working along the rural section between M1 Junction 24 and the edge of Clifton (all day Saturdays and until 1pm on Sundays).

On the side roads:

The new alignment at Parkway Junction North, adjacent to the A453, will remain in operation as bulk earthworks continue in this area.
The temporary 40mph speed limit on West Leake Lane continues throughout the period of the construction works.
A similar temporary 40mph speed limit is also now in place on Kegworth Road.
Barton Lane south (West Leake to Thrumpton) will be closed 24hours per day for service diversion works from 28th to 31st May

How will you manage traffic?

A Traffic Management Plan has been developed in consultation with the local police and County and district Councils. A minimum of one lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained during peak hours. These will usually run 07:00 to 20:00 on weekdays with variation at weekends. However a number of full closures of the A453 will be required during the construction period to carry out works that affect the whole carriageway.

Generally over the period of the works, temporary speed limits will be in place monitored by average speed cameras. There will be a 40mph limit between the M1 and the new Mill Hill Roundabout and a 30mph limit through Clifton from Mill Hill to the Farnborough Road Junction.

Will there be diversions?

Diversions will only be required during the limited number of full closures of the A453. There are no diversions in place at this time.

We are assessing our proposals for their environmental impact and will present the findings in an Environmental Statement which we will publish at the same time as the draft Orders (legal documents setting out our intentions).

The Environmental Statement will show the impact of the proposals in the following areas:

Air Quality
Traffic Noise & Vibration
Cultural Heritage
Ecology & Nature Conservation
Landscape, Townscape & Visual Effects
Road Drainage & the Water Environment including Flood Risk
Disruption Due to Construction
Land Use including Agricultural Effects
Pedestrians, Cyclists, Equestrians and Community Effects
Vehicle Travellers
Geology and Soils
Impact on Policies and Plans

We have designed the scheme to minimise any adverse effects on the local environment and would incorporate a range of measures to help lessen any impacts including:

Earth mounds and noise fences
Low-noise road surface
Planting trees, shrubs and hedges common to this location
New habitats for wildlife and new wildlife crossing points
Lighting at junctions and along the single 4-lane section only, designed to reduce night-time impacts
Balancing ponds to control water pollution and rate of discharge into watercourses
Flood compensation areas to reduce risk of flooding
Access tracks alongside the road to reduce severance

All existing public rights of way would be retained, supplemented or diverted appropriately.

Preliminary assessment of effects of proposed scheme from M1 to Clifton
CRITERIA	SUB CRITERIA	IMPACT OF PROPOSAL	COMMENTS
ENVIRONMENT	NOISE	Moderate increase at houses south of Crusader roundabout	Mitigation measures to reduce impacts would be provided where appropriate
	AIR QUALITY	Negligible changes
	LANDSCAPE	Slight adverse impact in relation to existing major road corridor. Likely to increase impact on the existing landscape	Dualling would increase the scale of the road. Landscaping and planting proposed to reduce impact
	ARCHAEOLOGICAL& HERITAGE	Slight adverse. The few areas with recorded remains not likely to be affected
	NATURE CONSERVATION	Some loss of hedgerows , woodland and flood meadow	New hedges would be planted, with trees on wide verges
	WATERENVIRONMENT	Neutral impact. Some River Soar flood plain would be required for dualling	Scheme design would include measures to protect water quality and flood plain
SAFETY	ACCIDENTS	Significant reduction in accidents	Estimated saving of 5 accidents per year. Cycling would also be safer due to dedicated facilities
ECONOMY	TRANSPORT ECONOMICS	Shorter journey times and reduced journey costs	The existing delays would be reduced
ECONOMY	JOURNEY TIMES	Journey times would be more reliable
ACCESSIBILITY	ACCESS TO THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM	Slight beneficial impact on access to transport services	The scheme would facilitate access to the Park and Ride proposals
ACCESSIBILITY	SEVERANCE	Slight beneficial impact	Pedestrian & cycle facilities improved. Grade-separation of junctions
INTEGRATION	LAND USE POLICY	Negligible impact on land use	Uses existing road corridor
WORKS	DISRUPTION DURING CONSTRUCTION	Slight to moderate disruption expected	Generally two way traffic flows would be maintained during construction

Preliminary assessment of effects of proposed scheme through Clifton
CRITERIA	SUB CRITERIA	IMPACT OF PROPOSAL	COMMENTS
ENVIRONMENT	NOISE	Slight adverse	Mitigation measures to reduce impact would be provided where appropriate
	AIR QUALITY	Slight adverse	Traffic would be closer to some properties
	LANDSCAPE	Localised impact at the main junctions	Landscaping and planting proposed to reduce impact
	ARCHAEOLOGICAL& HERITAGE	Slight Adverse at Clifton Green	Few remains likely to be affected. Local impact from land take at Green Lane
	NATURE CONSERVATION	Localised loss of roadside trees and hedge	New hedge and trees would be planted where possible
	WATER ENVIRONMENT	No significant water features affected	Area largely urbanised
SAFETY	ACCIDENTS	Significant reduction in accidents	Estimated saving of 6 accidents per year
ECONOMY	TRANSPORT ECONOMICS	Benefit from reduced congestion	Widened A453 could carry more traffic. Existing delays would be reduced
ECONOMY	JOURNEY TIMES	Journey times would be more reliable
ACCESSIBILITY	ACCESS TO THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM	Slightly beneficial	Revised bus laybys and pedestrian crossings would maintain the existing levels of access. Scheme would provide improved access to proposed Parkway Station
ACCESSIBILITY	SEVERANCE	Slightly beneficial	Existing number of crossings would be maintained and facilities enhanced
INTEGRATION	LAND USE POLICY	Negligible impact
WORKS	DISRUPTION DURING CONSTRUCTION	Overall impact could be moderate to severe	Generally two way traffic flows would be maintained during construction.

Activity	Date
Proposals to improve the A453 from M1 Junction 24 to the A52 in Nottingham were debated at Public Inquiries	1990s
The scheme was reassessed as part of the Government’s Roads Review	1997
Transport White Paper announcement that the scheme should be subject to further study in-line with the Government’s integrated transport policy	1998
A453 Multi-Modal Study started with consultations on transport options	2000
A453 Multi-Modal Study – Final Report Issued	2002
Scheme included in the Highways Agency’s construction programme	May 2004
Public Exhibitions of preliminary proposals held	Sept 2004
ECI Contract let to Laing O’Rourke and their designer WYG	March 2006
Public consultation on scheme developments since 2004	June 2007
Preferred Route Announcement and Environmental Statement published with Non-Technical Summary	Jan 2009
Public Inquiry held	Nov 2009
Scheme deferred to await the outcome of the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)	May 2010
2010 CSR deferred the scheme for a potential start in or after 2015	Oct 2010
The Autumn Statement Announcement included the A453 as a ‘Growth’ scheme, with a proposed start of works in the fourth quarter of 2012/13	Nov 2011
The decision into the 2009 Public Inquiry was published 29 March confirming that the scheme would proceed with some minor modifications	March 2012
Made Orders published on 24 May	May 2012
Start of Advance Works including archaeological investigations, fencing and some ecological works	July 2012
Start of works to divert statutory utility services	Autumn 2012
Start of Works	January 2013
Completion of new Mill Hill Roundabout accessing NET2	Sept 2013
Completion of the section through Clifton (also known as the ‘urban section’)	Spring 2015
Full scheme completion	Summer 2015