Main work due to start
The Highways Agency have announced that the main work on widening the A453 will start before the end of January 2013. The work is due to be completed by summer 2015.
Whilst there will inevitably be some disruption full closures will be kept to an absolute minimum and scheduled for off-peak travel times where possible.
For more information:
- see the Highways Agency website
- go to one of the public information exhibitions the Highways Agency:
Clifton Leisure Centre, Southchurch Drive:
• Friday 11 January 2pm-8pm
• Saturday 12 January 10am-4pm
Kegworth Whitehouse Hotel, Packington Hill, Kegworth:
• Sunday 13 January 10am-4.30pm
Council leader Councillor Kay Cutts said: "I am delighted that we are now within weeks of seeing construction work begin on the A453.
The County Council and the local business community campaigned long and hard for its improvement, with the county council putting £20 million into the scheme. The news that work is set to begin in the new year is fantastic news for everyone in Notts. The improvements to this vital route, combined with the planned extension to East Midlands Airport, will bring huge benefits to the Notts economy and the East Midlands as a whole."
Congestion
The A453 is one of the most congested roads in the country and costs larger businesses as much as £100,000 a year because of increased fuel usage, lack of access to customers, abandoned journeys and accident costs.
To the region as a whole, it has been estimated that an improved A453 would bring a boost to the economy of £540m.
Other A453 facts and figures:
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The Nottinghamshire section of the road is the second most congested part of the national road network after a short section of the M25
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Scheme to dual the road has already been subject to a public enquiry and subject to the secretary of state's decision would effectively be 'ready to go'
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Without the widening scheme, it is forecast that up to 30,000 vehicles a day will travel along the route by 2027, making congestion even worse
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In the five years up to October 2010, there were 185 accidents involving personal injury on just the Nottinghamshire part of the A453.
Timetable
The current timeline for work is as follows:
- advanced site clearance and accommodation works to start summer 2012
- main civil engineering works set to begin January 2013
- completion in late 2014/early 2015.
The cost of the scheme is estimated to be between of £141m and £194m, with Nottinghamshire County Council contributing £20m and Rushcliffe Borough Council £500,000.
As well as dealing with long-standing congestion and safety problems on the A453, the scheme will improve access to East Midlands Parkway station, and the Enterprise Zone at Beeston.
Make your voice heard
We've set up a Facebook page about the A453. Sign in to Facebook, 'like' our page and tell us how the widening will benefit you.
