A52 Bardills Island tram works finished early

Tram works to move electricity and communications cables at Bardills Island on the A52 have been completed early.

The works, which started on Sunday 20 October, were not due to be completed until this Sunday 3 November, but good weather conditions during the first week and the dedicated efforts of the site team have allowed them to finish ahead of schedule. The roundabout fully reopened early this morning (Wednesday 30 October).

Over the last week or so lane restrictions and reduced speed limits have been in place on all four approach routes to the island (from the A52 and Toton Lane/Stapleford Lane). The works were co-ordinated by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council with the Highways Agency to take advantage of the October school half-term holidays when traffic is generally quieter.

The roadworks were needed so that next spring the capacity at Bardills Island can be increased to accommodate traffic entering and exiting a new tram park and ride site, which is currently being installed off Toton Lane.

Vehicle and pedestrian access was maintained around Bardills Island throughout the works and considerable efforts were made to ensure that customers knew that nearby businesses were open as usual.

Steve Hunt, Nottingham City Council’s Head of Traffic and Safety, said: “We are very pleased that the tram contractor, Taylor Woodrow Alstom (TWA), has been able to work quickly and efficiently with minimal disruption to motorists to complete these works almost a full week ahead of schedule.

“We would like to thank motorists and people living and working in the area for their patience. These works were essential as we prepare for the opening of the new tram park and ride off Toton Lane in 2014.”

Jamie Missenden, Section Manager for TWA, said: “We’ve managed to condense two weeks of essential works into ten days and ensured that delays for motorists and disruption to local businesses were kept to an absolute minimum. We also worked closely with Western Power Distribution so that works affecting Bardills Island were not only finished ahead of schedule, but closely co-ordinated to be completed without any additional traffic restrictions.”

The tram works were are part of the 17.5km tram extension to the south and south west of Nottingham city centre to Chilwell via the QMC and Beeston and Clifton via Wilford (known as NET Phase Two), with tram services expected to be up and running by the end of 2014.

As tram construction activity continues, motorists can keep up to date with where tram works are taking place by visiting this website.