'Absolutely vital' junction works to start in summer

The scheme includes improvements to the Ollerton Roundabout

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN Local democracy reporter

LONG-AWAITED work to improve Nottinghamshire’s “north artery” roads is expected to start early next summer.

Improvements to smaller roundabouts along the A614/A6097 corridor are anticipated to get started in 2026 as part of the wider multi-million project to improve five junctions along the roads.

The scheme which includes improvements to Ollerton Roundabout was given government approval in September after a delay, having been first proposed in 2019. Councillors had been calling for the changes for more than 20 years, but funding for the scheme was placed under review by the Labour Government after last year’s General Election.

It had been given planning consent in September 2022 and work was supposed to have started in 2023.

In a Nottinghamshire County Council cabinet meeting on Thursday, the latest total cost estimation of up to £47.1m was presented to councillors.

Speaking during the meeting, Councillor Bruce Laughton (Con), said the project was “absolutely vital” for north Nottinghamshire.

He said: “It’s a good news story for the mining area in north Nottinghamshire, not just Ollerton. It’s absolutely vital. The A614 is the main north artery in the county - it covers two-thirds of the county and joins the Al and has suffered over a number of years mainly through increased traffic.”

Speaking to the local democracy reporting service (LDRS) following the meeting, Councillor Bert Bingham (Ref) said the physical works will happen in the early summer next year. He said: “Late spring but early summer for the [two] smaller roundabouts before we get onto the major scheme.