Nottingham City Council is carrying out road safety improvements on the Alfreton Road and Bentinck Road junction this summer as part of a wider £2 million project called the Western Gateway to regenerate the surrounding areas and enhance the approach to the city from the West.

There have been a number of reported injury accidents at the junction in recent years and the Accident Investigation Team at Nottingham City Council has come up with a number of ways to address road safety concerns whilst minimising the effect on traffic flow:

• Alter the layout of the lanes on the Bentinck Road approach to the junction to include a right-turn only lane.

• Remove the existing pedestrian refuge on Bentinck Road and adjust the layout of the central island on Hartley Road, which will allow the opposing stop lines to be moved closer together.

• Install a CCTV camera which will monitor the junction and moving traffic offences such as Bus Lane Enforcement.

• Resurface the road and some sections of the pavements to benefit motorists and pedestrians.

• Provide Advanced Cycle Stop Lines on the Alfreton Road and Hartley Road approaches to the junction.

• Improve / alter road markings and traffic signs to take account of the new junction layout.

Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Area Working at Nottingham City Council said: “We have recognised that there have been an increased number of accidents at this site and have drawn up a plan of works to improve the area for motorists and pedestrians. The money we are investing in the area will improve travelling around the area which will in turn have a positive impact on businesses and shops.”

To make enough room to carry out the junction improvements safely, from Sunday 20 July, Hartley Road will be temporarily closed to vehicles at its junction with Alfreton Road and Bentinck Road until the scheme is complete. Vehicles will instead need to use Alfreton Road itself and then Radford Boulevard before turning into Hartley Road.

In addition, there will be off-peak week day lane closures on Alfreton Road on the approaches to the Bentinck Road junction, while on Bentinck Road there will be 24 hour lane closures leading up to the junction.

Lane closures will also be needed on Alfreton Road on successive Sundays from 20th July, so that ducting can be laid across the road for the new traffic lights. This will be during the daytime, and will only be there when work is taking place.

Once the road safety works are completed a new road surface will be laid over the junction and nearby pavements. To be able to do this work safely, Bentinck Road between its junction with Alfreton Road and Peveril Street will be temporarily closed over one weekend in August.

On that same weekend Alfreton Road will remain open to traffic, but will be controlled by two-way temporary traffic lights. The junction of Hartley Road will remain closed. Once the road safety scheme is complete, all closures will be lifted and the junction will return to normal.