Reminder that Swadlincote road is closed this weekend
A SWADLINCOTE road is set to be closed from today for four days while emergency work is carried out.
Woodhouse Street will be subject to works from today, Friday, January 29, until Monday, February 1, highways bosses have said.
Utility companies Severn Trent Water and Cadent Gas are currently working on the road diverting the main services ready for a new roundabout to be created to link up with Derby Road.
Over the next four days, Severn Trent will be carrying out work around its water main, which means that both sides of Woodhouse Street will need to be closed, said a spokesman.
Today the closure will be between Kiln Way and Derby Road and tomorrow and Monday, it will be from Kiln Way to Pool Street.
Access to Kiln Way may be reduced to one lane during part of the works and access will be maintained for businesses, a spokesman for Derbyshire County Council has said.
A diversion route will be in place along the A514 Derby Road/civic Way, West Street, Alexandra Road, Church Avenue, York Road and Coppice Side.
And the work will not be finished after Monday, as it is then planned to have temporary traffic lights in place with one lane closed while the other is kept open so traffic can get through, with drivers warned to expect delays so they should allow extra time for their journeys.
The work is part of a scheme by the council on the Woodville to Swadlincote regeneration route project. This includes the longawaited bypass, which is planned to take traffic away from the congested Tollgate Island which has long been a problem in the area.
The council says the project aims to unlock the development potential of the Woodville regeneration area and will cost approximately £13.44 million to build. Funding includes a £6.4 million D2N2 grant and £620,00 from developer contributions, as well as money from the council.
The council website states: “The regeneration area is considered as being fundamental to the future prosperity of Swadlincote by providing much needed commercial space and 300 new homes, creating 3,100 jobs (plus construction jobs).
“The regeneration route would also form an important component of Derbyshire’s transport infrastructure by providing an alternative route for traffic accessing the town of Swadlincote, and also for east-west journeys between the M1/ A42/M42 and A38/A50 trunk roads.
“Journey times along the A511 are currently impeded at the A511/A514 clock roundabout leading to chronic congestion and a higher than average accident record.
“The regeneration route will relieve some of the congestion by greatly improving the accessibility of Swadlincote to the wider strategic and major road networks.
“The route also has the potential to provide additional economic benefits to and boost investor confidence within Woodville and Swadlincote by enabling reduced and consistent journey times.”