Road revamp still short of £26.5m to get going

UNCERTAINTY OVER FUNDING REMAINS, DESPITE £2 BILLION PLEDGE

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

A LONG-AWAITED scheme to cut congestion along a key road is still short of more than £26 million, years after it was announced.

The East Midlands Mayor recently mentioned the project when confirming a new £2 billion transport fund for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, mainly focused on building links between Nottingham and Derby.

Labour's Claire Ward used the announcement of the new Government funding to say her authority would be "finally addressing" congestion along the A614/A6097 corridor.

But officials have now confirmed they are still awaiting Government approval on £26.5 million to get the project going and that there is no timeline on when approval could be given.

Funding uncertainties have long dogged the attempt to upgrade roundabouts and junctions along the A614/A6097 between Ollerton and East Bridgford, which was first proposed back in 2019.

Work on Ollerton Roundabout would see new lanes created on the busiest approaches, as well as new pedestrian crossings and a speed limit reduction.

The White Post roundabout at Farnsfield would be resurfaced and relined, while the Lowdham roundabout would be expanded.

Proposed junction improvements include new lanes at the junction of Bridgford Street and Kirk Hill in East Bridgford.