A BUSY road junction in Leicester will be subject to overnight closures for up to two weeks from Monday for essential resurfacing works.
The resurfacing is the latest phase of major highways improvement works to a stretch of Welford Road as part of a major redevelopment scheme being carried out by the University of Leicester.
The university is investing £150m in transforming its Freemen’s Common site off Welford Road and is spending £1.5m on highway and junction improvements in the area linked to that scheme
As part of that, the inbound stretch of Welford Road, from Putney Road to University Road, will be closed to traffic overnight from 7pm to 6am, from Monday 14 September for up to five nights. Outbound traffic will be unaffected.
Then, from Monday 21 September, the outbound side of the road will be closed – as will University Road at its junction with Welford Road – from 7pm to 6am for up to five nights. Inbound lanes will be open as normal.
Diversions routes will be in place and clearly signposted on main routes leading to the junction.
The closures are required for resurfacing work. The road will fully reopen to traffic in the daytime to help minimise disruption.
The highway improvement scheme is being entirely paid for by the University of Leicester as part of its comprehensive £150m redevelopment of its Freemen’s Common site.
When complete, the Freemen’s Common development will include high-quality accommodation for around 1,200 students; a café for both students and the wider community; a new 550-space multi-storey car park; a landmark Teaching and Learning Centre, as well as the sensitive refurbishment and extension of the Grade II listed Freemen’s Cottages as the centrepiece of the scheme.
The university is also making a financial contribution towards improvements at Saffron Lane Stadium and Victoria Park, as part of an agreement to make a developer contribution to benefit the wider area.
Highways works are being carried out by Danaher & Walsh, under contract to Engie, the construction company leading on the university’s major redevelopment scheme.
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