A52 Nottingham corridor

The A52 is an important route through the heart of the East Midlands. We’re investing in improvements that will make this route faster, safer and more reliable for people and businesses.

Where we're working in Nottingham

Here are our A52 improvements in and around Nottingham.

How we'll work

To work safely, we’ll need a mixture of lane and road closures. We'll also need some weekend closures.

We'll work at the least busy times of the day or week to minimise disruption.

We'll mainly work in the daytime, but we may need to work overnight when traffic volumes are at their lowest.

We’ll provide closure and diversion route information on this page.

A52 LED Surveys between Spondon and Barrowby - 30 June 2025 to mid-October 2025

We'll be carrying out surveys as part of our plans to upgrade the roadside lighting to LEDs on the A52 between Spondon and Barrowby. The new LED lighting will be more energy efficient and require less maintenance in the future.

For more information, visit our Midlands LED roadside lighting upgrades webpage.

We've completed most of repairs to the northern bridge on the QMC roundabout.

We'll still need some overnight lane closures until we finish the scheme later this summer.

Thank you for your patience and co-operation while we carried out this work.

The A52 between Priory roundabout and QMC roundabout is coming to the end of its serviceable life. We’re carrying out work to resurface the road, upgrade drainage and improve lighting.  

The route has also experienced a number of personal injury collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists. We’re building a combined cycleway and footway on the eastbound side of the A52 to create a safer and more accessible route for all.  

Work started on this major upgrade on Monday 19 May 2025 and is due to be complete in spring 2026.  

Our improvements include resurfacing the A52 Derby Road between the Priory roundabout and the Queen's Medical Centre roundabout (including both roundabouts), and revised road markings. 

We’ll also reconfigure the existing eastbound footway to make space for a combined cycleway and pedestrian footway on the northern side of the A52. To do this we’ll narrow the A52 carriageway without reducing capacity. Vehicles will still be able to get past stopped buses, and ambulances and other emergency services will still be able to utilise the middle of the carriageway.  

Other improvements include:  

  • refurbishing the drainage and footway kerbs along the A52 Derby Road  
  • diverting utilities as part of the realigned combined cycleway / footway  
  • installing new lighting masts and associated ducting and cabinets  
  • upgrading the existing pedestrian lighting-controlled crossings  
  • replacement of all carriageway and footway signs 
  • landscaping the earthworks and other environmental elements any remaining verges will be set back to grass, while the Grade 2 Listed heritage wall belonging to Wollaton Hall will be protected whilst the work is done 
  • moving the current bus stop locations to align with the new A52 layout  

Closures and traffic management  

We'll use different traffic management phases as we work.  

A 24/7 one-way system for eastbound traffic heading towards Nottingham came into place on Wednesday 28 May and will be operational for around four months. 

The westbound carriageway is now closed to all vehicles.

Diversion

Follow our signed diversion by Dunkirk Island, University Boulevard and Woodside Road.

Diversion route map.

Please plan ahead and allow plenty of extra time for your journeys.

Monday 30 June to Thursday 3 July - A52 Brian Clough Way towards Priory Island
  • Lane 1 closed
  • all other approach roads reduced to a single lane.
  • lane closures in place on Priory Island

We also issue a weekly traffic bulletin giving a two week forward look for works along the A52 in Nottingham. To subscribe please email: noreplyA52emids@nationalhighways.co.uk.

In November 2024, we submitted an Order to the Secretary of State for Transport.

Once confirmed, this Order will enable the compulsory purchase of land we need to improve Nottingham Knight and Wheatcroft junctions.

These improvements will increase capacity at the junctions, easing congestion and making the route safer and more reliable. 

For more information, visit our A52 Nottingham junctions web page.

Project information

Overview

Running east-west across five counties, the A52 is an important route through the heart of the East Midlands. It is a vital connection for those who live and work in the region. 

What we're doing in Nottingham

The A52 in Nottingham provides easy links to a wide range of essential services, attractions, and landmarks. It’s one of the city’s key arterial roads, ensuring direct access to major destinations across the East Midlands and beyond.  

It serves as a catalyst for economic growth, supporting businesses by providing essential connections to key routes such as the A1 and M1.

These connections are crucial to the smooth and swift movement of goods and services. They enable businesses to connect with their customers more effectively. 

With traffic volumes predicted to grow over the coming years, we’re investing millions of pounds in the area to: 

  • relieve congestion and smooth traffic flow
  • improve safety and journey times
  • encourage healthy and sustainable travel
  • improve access to key businesses and locations 

Once complete, our improvements will foster growth and development by:

  • making locations more accessible and attractive for investment
  • generating employment and residential development opportunities

Utility companies

Utility companies (gas, water, electricity and suchlike) often work on roads we manage. Where possible, we try to coordinate our roadworks with them to minimise disruption to motorists.

Sometimes we can't do this. For example, utility companies don't have to give advance notice when responding to emergencies (like burst water mains or gas leaks).

This means we can't always warn people about potential disruption before utility companies start working.

Utility companies are wholly responsible for telling people (like residents, motorists and local communities) about the impact of their works.

To find out who's responsible for roadworks in your area, visit one.network.

Once complete, our improvements will foster growth and development.

They'll make locations more accessible and attractive for investment.

This will generate employment and residential development opportunities. 

Documents

Traffic information

Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.

Contact us

0300 123 5000

X

Find out more

Feedback