THE LONG A512 ROAD WORKS BEGIN
Overnight road closures this week
MAJOR roadworks are beginning this week on a main route into Loughborough, which will affect motorists for the next 18 months.
The Leicestershire County Council scheme aims to improve journey times and road safety along the A512 and M1 junction 23 in Loughborough, around the forthcoming 3,200-home Garendon Park development just outside the town.
The first part of the roadworks began on Monday (August 5) with night closures put in place from 8pm to 6am for four nights on the A512 Ashby Road East from the junction with Ingleberry Road to Junction 23 of the M1.
The closures are required to allow for the installation of barriers and cones to narrow existing lanes and create a safe working environment for operatives without disruption to traffic.
Diversions will be in place for the duration of the closures and access in and out of the lorry park will only be available to and from the west and only under the escort of a traffic safety control officer.
There will also be no direct access available between the lorry park and the motorway and vice versa during the road closures, and so vehicles must follow the signposted diversion routes.
Due to take 18 months to complete, the second stage of the £25m project will include improvements to M1 junction 23 to support future development and traffic growth.
It will also involve turning a stretch of the A512 between Junction 23 and Snells Nook Lane, Loughborough, from a single to dual carriageway and the construction of a new roundabout for two large housing and employment sites. The work will be carried out by Morgan Sindall.
The first phase was completed in June and involved the removal of trees and vegetation from junction 23 of the M1 and the A512, Ashby Road East.
Blake Pain, county council cabinet member for environment and transport said: “We’re pleased that work on the second phase of this project which will help to improve the flow of traffic and provide quicker and more reliable journeys for drivers, can now begin.
“Once complete we believe it will really help to improve overall journey times and road safety in the area by reducing traffic on the A512, and some residential roads. It will also support commercial and residential development in Loughborough by increasing employment and providing new, more accessible development.
“We will work hard to reduce the disruption to people using these busy routes while we are carrying out the scheme, and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The scheme is being funded by developers, with an additional £5m from Highways England and £12m from the Leicester, Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).
If the scheme goes to plan, it should be complete and operational by spring 2021.
For further details and updates about work taking place visit www. leicestershire.gov.uk/M1J23