Press release

Planned roadworks in the East Midlands: Weekly summary for Monday 9 to Sunday 15 March

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 6 March 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 from 9pm to 6am each night:

  • On Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 March the M1 J15a southbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed.
  • The M1 J15 southbound exit and entry slip rods will be closed on the night of Wednesday 11 March;
  • The M1 J15 northbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed on the night of Thursday 12 March; and
  • The J16 southbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed on the night of Friday 13 March.

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 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 closures will be in place:

  • Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 March – M1 J31 southbound entry slip road;
  • Wednesday 11 March – M1 J28 southbound exit slip road and A38 eastbound between M1 J28 and East Midlands Designer Outlet;
  • Thursday 12 March – M1 J28 southbound exit slip road and A38 westbound between East Midlands Designer Outlet and M1 J28;
  • Friday 13 March – M1 J28 northbound exit slip road and A38 westbound from M1 J28 to Bramble Way; and
  • Saturday 14 March – M1 J31 northbound entry slip road and the A38 westbound between M1 J28 and Bramble Way.

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 DIRFT, Crick, Northamptonshire: footpath reconstruction

From 15 March to 1 April there will be daytime lane closures on the southbound carriageway between 8am and 5pm, a 24/7 50mph speed limit and layby closures.

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 exit slip road at Junction 8 will be closed 24/7 from 8pm on Friday 13 March to 6am on Monday 16 March.

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.

A14 junction 12-13, Nene Viaduct, Northamptonshire: bridge works

From 9 March to 3 May there will be overnight carriageway closures between 8pm and 6am. Only one carriageway will be closed at a time although dates and direction of the closures will be dictated by the works found on inspection of the bridge. Diversions will be the A45 at Junction 13 to Irthlingborough then onto the A6 to rejoin the A14 at Jun 10, or vice versa.

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 Great Billing, Northamptonshire: resurfacing

From 9 to 16 March there will be overnight closures of the northbound carriageway between 8pm and 6am. Traffic will be diverted via Barnes Meadow onto the A428, and A509 to rejoin the A45 at junction 14 Little Irchester.

A45 Chowns Mill roundabout, Northamptonshire: surveys

From 11 March to 1 April there will be lane closures during the day from 9.30am to 3.30pm and again at night from 8pm to 6am.

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.

A52 Barrowby, Lincolnshire, to Saxondale, Nottinghamshire: resurfacing

From 9 March to 11 April there will be full overnight road closures from 8pm to 6am

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

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.

The following full closures will be in place this week: • The westbound A453 will be closed between the M1 and Parkway from 9pm on Monday 9 March to 5am the following morning. • Both carriageways will be closed between West Leake and Mill Hill on the nights of 11 and 13 March, from 8pm to 5am each night.

M1 junction 24/A50 Approach Economy Scheme

The following full closures will be in place this week:

  • From 9 to 13 March, the A50 westbound will be closed overnight, from 8pm to 6am, between M1 J24 and J24a, as will the M1 J24 northbound exit slip road.

For details of all other lane closures and other traffic management visit the journey impact section of the scheme website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/m1-j24-a50-approach-economy/

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 www.highways.gov.uk/traffic.

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 6 March 2015