Major changes have been made to a junction at Mapperley Plains - but people in the area fear an 'accident waiting to happen'.
Work has been taking place to change the layout of the junction of Mapperley Plains, Arnold Lane and Gedling Road, near the Mapperley Plains School and Gedling Colliery Cricket Club.
The changes involve a new dedicated lane and traffic signal phasing for traffic turning right.
The new layout has sparked debate on social media with locals saying traffic has been backing up at weekends because of the "disproportionately large right lane".
It's said the issue has been causing traffic to back up beyond the junction towards Spring Lane, the road which links to Gedling Country Park.
The junction changes form part of wider infrastructure works in the project to build the vast new Gedling Access Road.
But people in Mapperley said they were concerned the changes could lead to a crash.
Business analyst Kirsty Hills-Dixon, 35, of Howieson Court, who lives opposite the junction, said: “It has been bad here because of the works and there are a lot of traffic lights in close succession which can be a bit of a pain.
“It feels like an accident is waiting to happen, people shoot past.
“It would be better if they made the islands wider so it’s easier to cross. Better road markings will also help.”
Personal trainer Mark Prince, 35, said the stretch in question had always been busy.
Mr Prince, who lives in Bailey Drive in Mapperley, said: "It’s a very busy and dangerous junction.
“I don’t think the new layout will help. It would help if the road conditions were better."
Retired Geoff Hill, 69, who lives in Arnold, added: “It’s always been very busy, lots of traffic, and for years it’s been a bottleneck.
“I don’t think the works will make it any better.
“This area doesn’t have good transport links like other areas such as Hucknall.
“I think what would work is a tram network as we have no tram facilities around here.
“That’ll mean people would use it instead of driving.
“People have to drive around here as there isn’t other options.”
The work at the junction is set to last until the summer.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Head of Highways and Transport, Gary Wood, said: “The new junction of the Gedling Access Road (GAR) and Mapperley Plains is almost complete and will be operational once GAR is opened.
“There is then a short second phase of work that will see changes to the existing traffic signals at the current Mapperley Plains/Arnold Lane/Gedling Road junction, this work and the final road layout will be complete in the summer of 2022.
“The changes to the junction will see a dedicated lane and traffic signal phasing for right turns.
“The new GAR junction and altered junction at Arnold Lane have been designed to work together and take into account traffic levels, future traffic growth and housing developments – and it is considered that the final junction arrangements will be an improvement in terms of capacity and journey time.
“Thank you to road users for their ongoing patience during the road works.
“With any new road it takes time for all the changes to be put in place and traffic patterns to establish.
“As part of the changes, traffic signal engineers will monitor the signals and make changes if required to ensure that junctions are working effectively and efficiently.”
Once built, the 3.8km single carriageway GAR will link the A612 Trent Valley Road and Nottingham Road to Mapperley Plains.
The GAR will run parallel with the A6211 Arnold Lane and through the centre of the old Gedling Colliery site to serve the vast, £140m Chase Farm housing estate that's redeveloped the former pit site.
The road, set to cross several fields, Glebe Farm and a section of walled garden at Gedling House and part of the Carlton-le-Willows Academy grounds, will aim to reduce heavy traffic along Arnold Lane, Main Road and Shearing Hill through the centre of Gedling Village.
Construction of the new £48m 3.8km route began in January 2020 and is scheduled to be completed by spring this year, after delays and soaring costs.
Markings have now appeared on the new road.
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