Press release

Planned roadworks in the East Midlands: Weekly summary for Monday 2 to Sunday 8 March

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 27 February but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

M1 junction 15 to 19, Northamptonshire: central reserve work

From 4 August to summer 2015 there will be various restrictions in place to allow for the construction of a reinforced concrete barrier in the central reserve. These include speed restrictions, narrow lanes and hard shoulder running. This week the following full closures will be in place:

  • for two nights from Wednesday 4 March there will be a closure of the northbound exit and entry slip roads at M1 junction 15a from 9pm to 6am each night
  • the junction 16 northbound exit slip road will be closed from 9pm on Friday 6 March to 6am the following morning
  • the junction 16 southbound entry slip road will be closed from 9pm on Saturday 7 march to 6.30am the following morning

M1 junction 19 at Catthorpe, Leicestershire: major improvement works

Between now and autumn 2016 there will be various hard shoulder, lane or carriageway closures while the new junction is built.

M1 Junction 21, Leicester: bridge construction

From 16 February to 31 March there will be overnight carriageway or lane closures on either or both carriageways from 8pm to 8am.

M1 Junction 23, Leicestershire: carriageway repairs

The northbound entry slip road will be closed from 9pm on 5 March to 5am the following morning, together with lane one of the main carriageway.

M1 junction 28 to 31 and 32 to 35a, Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire/Yorkshire: smart motorway

Until Winter 2016 there will be various restrictions in place on the M1 between junctions 28 and 35a to allow for the construction of the Smart Motorway. These include lane closures, speed restrictions, hard shoulder running and overnight slip road or carriageway closures. Until March 2015 there will be various restrictions in place on the M18 between junction 0 and 2. These include lane closures, speed restrictions, hard shoulder running and overnight slip road or carriageway closures.

This week the following full overnight closures will be in place:

  • Monday 2 March – M18 southbound to M1 southbound link
  • Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 March – M1 J31 southbound entry slip road
  • Wednesday 4 March – M1 J31 northbound up and over
  • Thursday 5 March – M1 J35a southbound entry slip road and M1 J32 northbound exit slip road
  • Friday 6 March – M1 J28 southbound exit slip road, A38 east and westbound between M1 J28 and East Midlands Designer Outlet
  • Saturday 7 March – M1 J30 northbound entry slip road, M1 J28 southbound entry slip road and A38 westbound between East Midlands Designer Outlet and M1 J28

In addition there will be various police rolling road blocks on a number of nights on the M1 to allow for gantry installation.

M45 between J1 and M1 J17, Northamptonshire/Warwickshire: barrier installation

From 11 December 2014 to March 2015 barrier installation will be carried out. The westbound carriageway will be closed overnight, from 8pm to 6am on 13 November. Two further closures will take place in 2015. At all other times there will be closures of lane one and the hard shoulder. Traffic will be diverted from the M1 j16 along the A45 around Daventry to rejoin the M45 at J1.

M45 Dunchurch to M1 J17, Northamptonshire: carriageway repairs

From 9 February to 20 May there will be a number of restrictions on the eastbound carriageway including overnight carriageway closures from 8pm to 6am, or 24/7 closures of the hard shoulder and lane one with a 50mph speed limit. During full closures traffic will be diverted via the A45 to Daventry and Weedon to join the M1 at J16.

A1 Elkesley, Nottinghamshire: junction improvement

Between now and September 2015 various restrictions will be in place including lane closures, carriageway closures, narrow lanes and a 40mph speed limit

A5 Caldecote, Warwickshire: junction improvement

From 16 February 2014 to 31 March 2015 lane closures and two way traffic signals will be in place while the junction is improved.

A5 Old Stratford, Northamptonshire: survey work

Traffic lights will be in operation during the daytime on 7 and 8 March, from 8am to 6pm both days.

The northbound carriageway will be closed from 8pm on 5 March to 6am the following morning.

A14 junction 7-9 Kettering Bypass, Northamptonshire: widening

A number of overnight closures will be taking place until April 2015. Please note these are provisional dates and are subject to change.

The westbound carriageway will be closed overnight from Saturday 28 February until Saturday 7 March. The eastbound carriageway will be closed for one night on Sunday 1 March and again from Saturday 7 March until Monday 9 March. Closures will take place from 8pm to 6am Sundays to Thursdays, 8pm on Fridays to 8am on Saturdays and 8pm on Saturdays to 9am on Sundays.

Drivers are asked to follow the signed diversion routes during these closures. Please do not use SatNavs when following the diversion.

A westbound contra-flow system is now in place on the eastbound carriageway and fully operational 24 hours a day. The contra-flow system includes temporary steel barriers to protect motorists and the workforce, and reductions in lane widths. Due to safety and recovery restrictions, drivers of HGV vehicles are required to use lane 1 only on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways. Any other types of through traffic not wishing to come off at junctions 7, 8 or 9 we encourage you to use the contra-flow lane to ease congestion. A free vehicle recovery service is also in place and drivers are advised to remain in their vehicle until assistance arrives. A 24-hour 40mph speed limit is being enforced by average speed cameras. The new Lane 1 on the eastbound carriageway is now in use however, please note that the 40mph speed limit will remain in place until the end of the scheme to protect road users and road workers as they complete remaining work on the westbound carriageway.

A43 Padbury Roundabout to Ardley Roundabout, Oxfordshire: improvement scheme

From 27 October to 20 March 2015 there will be various overnight lane and carriageway closures in place on both carriageways from 8pm to 6am.

A45 Barnes Meadow, Northamptonshire: resurfacing

From 2 to 7 March the westbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am. Traffic will be diverted eastbound to the Weston Flavell interchange where it will turn round and join the westbound carriageway. In addition there will be lane closures on the exit slip road and main carriageway.

A45 Wilby Way to Billing, Northamptonshire: carriageway repairs

From 5 to 8 March the westbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am. Traffic will be diverted off the A45 at J14 (Little Irchester), and via the A509 and A428 to rejoin the A45. A separate diversion will be in place for local traffic.

A52 Bingham, Nottinghamshire: resurfacing

From 2 March to 13 April there will be overnight closures of either the east or westbound carriageway between Saxondale Roundabout and the junction of the A52 with Grantham Road, Bingham. Access to Bingham and surrounding villages will be maintained. Through traffic will be diverted via the A1 to Newark and A46 to Bingham, or vice versa. Closures take place from 8pm to 6am each night.

A453 widening from M1 junction 24 to A52: Major improvement work

The following full closures will be in place this week:

  • access to and from Sunninghill Drive remains closed 24/7 until the middle of March
  • from 8pm on Thursday 5 March to 5am the following morning the A453 will be closed between West Leake and Parkway

Advance notice:

On Monday 9 March the underpass access to the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station will open to traffic. This will be the permanent access to the power station and Parkway Station. The existing access to the north of the traffic lights will be closed. Access to the underpass will be via the roundabout south of the junction.

On Wednesday 11 March the West Leake Junction will be partially opened with A453 eastbound traffic travelling over the junction bridge, and all four slip roads open. Westbound traffic will continue to use the exit and entry slip roads.

M1 junction 24/A50 Approach Economy Scheme

There are no full closures planned for this week, For details of all other lane closures and other traffic management visit the journey impact section of the scheme website.

Customers travelling to and from East Midlands Airport should allow extra time for their journeys during this work, particularly if they have a flight to catch. For real time traffic information visit the Highways Agency’s website.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Published 27 February 2015