New road layout for A453

Road users in Nottinghamshire will be switched to a new section of the A453 from next week as part of the Highways Agency’s ongoing improvements.

A new roundabout on the southern side of West Leake junction is due to be completed on Tuesday 25 March.

From 8pm that night, the A453 will be closed between West Leake junction and Parkway junction to enable a new temporary tie in to be completed.

When the road reopens by 5.30am on Wednesday 26 March all A453 traffic will be diverted on to the new westbound exit and entry slips at West Leake and the new southern roundabout. Temporary road markings will allow the slip roads to operate as a two-way road.

Highways Agency assistant project manager Asad Khan said: “Diverting traffic on to the new roundabout will allow us to excavate a cutting for the new dual carriageway on the east side of West Leake junction and to construct the new eastbound slip roads. It’s another important milestone in the dualling of the A453.

The new layout will be in operation for approximately seven months.

The £150 million Highways Agency scheme to widen a seven-mile section of the A453 between M1 junction 24 in Leicestershire and the A52 in Nottinghamshire, will unlock growth and boost the economy as well as reduce congestion and improve safety.

The Highways Agency will upgrade the 5.5 mile rural section of the A453 from M1 Junction 24 to the new roundabout at the edge of Clifton to become a dual carriageway, with 2 free flow junctions in order to minimise disruption on the A453

The 1.5mile urban section of the scheme from the new Mill Hill roundabout to the A52 east of Clifton, will be a four lane carriageway (two lanes in each direction), built on the existing road alignment. Traffic lights will be provided at the existing Crusader Roundabout, new roundabouts at Green Lane and Farnborough Road, and an improved access to Nottingham Trent University.