Friday 12:35
Improvement work on the A52 at the junction with New Lane in Whatton, Nottinghamshire, is due to start on Monday 10 January 2005, in preparation for the expansion of Whatton Prison.
The £1.7m scheme, funded by the Home Office, will ensure that the junction can cope with greater vehicle movements expected as a result of the expansion. Work will be carried out seven days a week for approximately 16 weeks during peak and off-peak times.
The work involves relocating the current A52 prison access to New Lane and splitting the east and westbound carriageways with a central reserve. This central reserve will be used as a right-turn facility for vehicles wanting to access New Lane / the prison from the A52 westbound and for vehicles turning right from New Lane onto the A52. Street lighting will also be installed from Bingham to Old Grantham Road.
The following traffic management will be in place:
* New Lane will be closed for the duration of the work * A 30mph speed restriction will be in force from 10 January, for the duration of the work * Two-way temporary lights will be in place from 17 January for one week only between 9.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday and over the weekend when necessary. * From 24 January the A52 will be narrowed but one lane in each direction will be maintained for the majority of the scheme
The current 60mph speed restriction along this stretch will remain in place once the work is complete.
Alan Rossiter, Highways Agency assistant route manager, said:
"This improvement scheme is essential to upgrade the existing junction and prepare it for the increase in traffic expected from the prison expansion. By separating the carriageways and creating a right-turn facility, safety will be improved and congestion reduced.
"During this time, we ask road users to be patient and allow extra time for their journeys, as the work is expected to cause some delays."
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport, which manages, maintains and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State. It works closely with other transport operators and with local authorities to integrate the trunk road network with the rest of England's roads and other forms of transport.
2. The work will be carried out by North Midland Construction and supervised by AMSCott on behalf of the Highways Agency.
3. Information about roadworks and road conditions on the motorways and trunk roads in England is available from the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 504030, and website: http://www.highways.gsi.gov.uk.
4. The Highways Agency and the Department for Transport's Think road safety campaign advise drivers to follow six key messages about driving safely in wintry weather. These are:
* The British winter is unpredictable. If you must drive, make sure you are prepared for the bad weather conditions. * Check local and national weather forecasts. Listen to travel information on radio. * Make sure you're equipped with warm clothes, food, water, boots, de-icer, a torch and spade.
* Take care around winter service vehicles. Don't be tempted to overtake snowploughs by squeezing into partially cleared lanes. * It can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions. Allow extra room to slow down and stop. * Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking and acceleration.
Client ref EM/318/04
