Christmas coming early for drivers as A52 set to open up

National Highways is delivering a huge improvement scheme on the A52 Derby Road in Nottingham including reconstructing the carriageway, tackling issues with drainage and flooding and introducing a cycle path and safer pedestrian routes.

A one-way system is currently in place on the A52 to enable the significant works to take place.

National Highways Project Manager, Susan Chambers, said:

“We are making fantastic progress on this scheme which will bring safer, improved and more reliable journeys. But we appreciate that a lot of people will travel this route to do their shopping, visit family and socialise for Christmas so we are doing all we can to make that experience as painless as possible.

“We are working hard to have the road open in both directions during the daytime and weekends leading up to Christmas, when we know the city is at its busiest.

“Some road closures will be needed to safely resurface the road before it can open but we will do these over two weekends when traffic numbers are lower.”

Work started in May this year and has so far included:

• Installing some 540 metres of new ducting for the street lights and traffic lights.
• Removing and replacing 28 street lights including the excavation of new foundations and installation of new cabling.
• Installing new gullies, kerbs and tactile paving, as well as some resurfacing work.
• Removing 50 metres of pedestrian barriers.
• Cutting back vegetation so we can start building the new combined footway and cycleway.
• Excavating approximately 300m3 of footway.

To enable the resurfacing to take place there will be two weekend closures with the A52 then opening to traffic in both directions from Monday 24 November and continuing throughout the Christmas period, new year and into early 2026.

The weekend closures will be as follows:

• Friday 21 November (8pm) – Monday 24 November (6am)
  Full closure of A52 Derby Road between Priory and QMC roundabouts to resurface the westbound carriageway.
• Friday 5 December (8pm) – Monday 8 December (6am)
  Full closure of A52 Derby Road in both directions between Priory and QMC roundabouts to resurface the eastbound carriageway.

Road users and members of the local community will have the opportunity to speak to the project team about the progress that has been made and the next stages at two public information events that are taking place.

Both will be held at St Barnabas Church, Derby Rd, Lenton Abbey, Nottingham, NG9 2SN, on the following dates:

• Friday 7 November, 11am to 7pm
• Saturday 8 November, 10am-2pm

Susan Chambers explained:

“We really want to make sure we are keeping people fully informed about the scheme as well as giving drivers and residents the chance to ask us any questions they may have. So please do come along and talk to us, we welcome your feedback.”

More information about the scheme and details of planned closures and diversion routes can be found on the A52 corridor webpage here: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/a52corridor/

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

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