VIDEO: Worksop roundabout set for £3m revamp

The Millhouse roundabout, as it is known locally, which joins the A57 and A60 with Newcastle Avenue and St Anne’s Drive could undergo improvements from 2015.

Plans involve converting the roundabout to traffic light control to reduce traffic build-up.

Signal controlled pedestrian and cycle crossings would also be installed.

The project has been allocated £1.83 million funding by the D2N2 Local Transport Board, made up of voting members from across Notts and Derbyshire.

It is one of six projects, worth £67 million, which were put forward last week to the Department for Transport.

If approved by the Government department, the shortfall in funding for the Worksop project will be made up by contributions from Notts County Council and other funding streams.

Work could start as soon as 2015.

Coun Kevin Greaves chairs the county council’s highways and transport committee, and is ward councillor for Worksop West.

He said the scheme, although not yet ‘cut and dried’ would be welcomed by Worksop and the wider area.

“The proposal has been put forward for approval by the Department for Transport and we are looking for more financial support and investment to fulfil the £3.2 million needed,” said Coun Greaves.

“These six projects that have been chosen and pushed forward are ready to go. It’s about which ones we can get to grips with straight away.”

Coun Greaves said the roundabout improvements would reap benefits for local people as well as bringing investment to Worksop.

“We want people who are looking to invest in the town to see that traffic flows smoothly. The A57 is a main arterial route between the M1 and the A1 and we have got to free that up,” he said.

“But it is also about getting people to work on time, or wherever they need to be.”

“The residents of the St Anne’s estate struggle to get onto the roundabout. It has become a ‘look and dash’ roundabout.”

“Traffic builds up along all routes leading to the roundabout at peak times, whether you are driving up Newcastle Avenue, Mansfield Road or the A57. The queues can stretch for miles.”

“And there have been quite a few shunts when vehicles stack up at the traffic lights as they are leaving the roundabout.”

“These improvements are very badly needed and they have been needed for a long time.”