Taxi drivers in Nottingham said traffic congestion is the 'worst it has ever been' with disruption on key routes in the city centre due to works. Heavy traffic was reported across the city with Nottingham becoming 'gridlocked' due to a number of roadworks on Wednesday, January 18.
Drivers said the disruption has been partly caused by the works to cycle routes at the Station Street junction, which started on the weekend of January 7 and 8. These will continue for 21 weeks, ending in Summer 2023.
Severe delays are also being caused by the 12-week partial closure of Derby Road between the Queen's Medical Centre roundabout and Priory roundabout. This partial road closure was put in place on January 9 to facilitate three months of gas works.
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Parked just outside Loxley House, in Station Street, taxi driver Liaque Ali said it sometimes takes him 20 minutes to make it to London Road due to heavy traffic. The 60-year-old added: "Driving between 4pm and 7pm is just a nightmare. It is because of the roadworks, sometimes it takes me 20 minutes to drive from here to the junction with London Road.
"Nottingham is really busy at the moment. You also have the works on Derby Road. It is just very expensive for customers - it is too much for them because we just get stuck in traffic."
Mohammed Meherban, aged 55, described the traffic in the city "just rubbish". He added: "I wonder if anyone will actually use the cycle lanes. We get people complaining about the taxi fares because most of the time we are just stuck in traffic.
"Let's say someone wants to go to Lenton - I would have to all around onto London Road to get to A608. In normal traffic, that already costs them £4.40 - to get to the same spot.
"And that is not taking into account the traffic that is just rubbish. It is very difficult."
Munir Hussain has been a taxi driver in Nottingham for more than 16 years. The 50-year-old commented: "We are getting stuck in traffic, and then people complain about fares. They see the clock ticking, seeing the ride getting more expensive and we just stay in the queue.
"London Road and Derby Road are important routes, so the whole city is getting gridlocked. Many people work from home, but for those who have to go to the office and get back from work - it is a nightmare."
Imran Mageed, aged 54, has been driving in Nottingham for 30 years. He added: "This is the worst Nottingham has ever been for traffic. The traffic lasts all day now, it is not just during rush hour.
"It has been like this for the last couple of days and it is all because of the road works. People are moaning about ride prices but we do not have a choice."
When Nottinghamshire Live visited London Road on Wednesday, January 18, the two lanes were very busy, with traffic at the junction with Queens Road being particularly bad. The works to cycle lanes include a dedicated segregated cycleway from London Road junction to join the Station Street cycleway, dedicated marked on-road cycleway, right turn for cyclists facility, signal pedestrian and cycle crossings on all arms of the junction, and resurfacing work.
Traffic was also seen outside the fire station on London Road, with a spokesperson for the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service adding: "We would like to remind motorists to keep the checked box in front of the station clear so that fire engines can pull out for emergency response."
On Derby Road, major gas work on Derby Road started on Monday, January 9, closing the outbound stretch - between the QMC and Priory Island - for an estimated 12 weeks. A spokesperson for Cadent, which is running the works in the area, said: "Cadent are currently carrying out vital works along the A52, Derby Road, Nottingham. The works will see us replace 2,000 metres of mains gas pipes which are 85 years old, and will future proof our network, ensuring that we can continue the flow of gas into homes and businesses for years to come.
"Of course, we understand the disruption that the works will cause to road users, residents and visitors, but we thank everybody for their patience and we want to assure everyone that our priority is carrying out these essential works as safely, and as quickly as possible. In the interim, we urge road users to allow extra time for their journeys, or use alternative routes wherever possible."
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