The total cost for the scheme has increased to potentially over £47 million
The major project will improve junctions and roundabouts along a key route between Ollerton and East Bridgford(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
The long-awaited work to improve Nottinghamshire’s “north artery” roads is expected to start in early summer.
Improvements to smaller roundabouts along the A614/A6097 corridor are anticipated to get started in late spring or early summer 2026 as part of the wider multi-million project to improve five junctions along the roads.
The scheme – which includes improvements to Ollerton Roundabout – was given government approval in September 2025 after a delay, having been first proposed in 2019. Councillors had been calling for the changes for more than 20 years, but funding for the scheme was placed under review by the Labour Government after last year’s General Election.
It had been given planning consent in September 2022 and work was supposed to have started in 2023.
In a Nottinghamshire County Council cabinet meeting on Thursday (December 18), the latest total cost estimation of up to £47.1 million was presented to councillors.
Speaking during the meeting, Councillor Bruce Laughton (Con), said the project was “absolutely vital” for North Nottinghamshire.
He said: “It’s a good news story for the mining area in North Nottinghamshire, not just Ollerton. It’s absolutely vital.
“The A614 is the main north artery in the county – it covers two-thirds of the county and joins the A1 and has suffered over a number of years mainly through increased traffic.”
Speaking to the local democracy reporting service (LDRS) following the meeting, Cllr Bert Bingham (Ref) said the physical works will happen in the early summer next year.
He said: “Late spring but early summer for the [two] smaller roundabouts before we get onto the major scheme.
“We’ve got a lot of legal and administrative work to put in place, then you’ve got mobilisation and at the start of the year we’ll be going out to re-tender just to reaffirm the pricing for the job.”
During Thursday’s meeting, Cllr Laughton warned the authority of the rising costs already witnessed in the scheme, saying: “The first cost alluded to on this particular scheme was [around] £27 million and it’s gone up to [potentially] £47 million which is a massive increase over that period of time.
“There will be real problems in keeping within costs and it will be our responsibility and your responsibility to ensure those costs are kept within the bounds of the budget.”
As of February 2025 the total cost for the junction works was £41,761,760 but the latest estimated spend now sits at £43,734,208 due to inflation and risk mitigations.
There is also a chance this cost could grow further to £47,102,691 when factoring in unknown risks such as flooding and utility diversion works.
When asked by the LDRS how the council was going to make sure the project’s spend was contained to that figure, Cllr Bingham said: “We work with our wholly-owned, arms-length company VIA. They are contract project managers.
“I’ll be getting regular updates with them as to where works are at and if there are any slippages or any delays. We could be on it early but at the moment, the program is as it stands.”
County Council leader, Mick Barton (Ref) told the LDRS the authority is “very confident” the scheme will be completed without going over the maximum £47.1 million figure.
To cover the cost of the project £24.3 million will be funded from the government, £8.3 million from the County Council, a minimum of £1.7 million from developer contributions along with an increased sum of up to £12,670,672 from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to cover the potential rise to more than £47 million.
Documents say: “The Council has been in discussions with EMCCA since the project was formally confirmed by the [government] and EMCCA has agreed to underwrite some of the delivery risk.
“This presents a need to provide a cost envelope with a higher figure that EMCCA have confirmed via a letter of comfort that they will underwrite, final EMCCA approval for this allocation is due early in 2026.”
Also speaking during Thursday’s meeting, Cllr Martin Wright (Ref) asked if the council would provide information to road users and companies about road disruptions caused by the works, alongside sharing information with companies that provide data used for satellite navigation systems.
Cllr Bingham responded that there is a “full communication plan” to keep the public informed of disruptions, including those affecting satnav operators and HGV operators, and will update the council on any developments.
Leader Mick Barton told the LDRS he “hopes” Rufford Ford, in Rufford Lane, could be opened in 2026 which could alleviate traffic problems caused by the A614 scheme.
The scheme is set to formally start in early 2026, pending securing agreement from all funders.
Once preliminary works are completed, road improvements can commence with the White Post Roundabout and Warren Hill junctions in the summer. The enabling works and construction of site compounds at Ollerton, Lowdham, and Kirk Hill are scheduled to start from September 2026.
At Ollerton roundabout, the road will be widened to provide two entry lanes to the roundabout to increase capacity. Two toucan crossings will also be installed. These works are due to finish by the end of 2028.
Lowdham roundabout will be getting a third lane on the A612 Nottingham Road, while a maintenance scheme and relining will take place at White Post roundabout.
The Warren Hill junction will be simplified, with the addition of an extended merge lane.
On the A6097 Bridgford Street and Kirk Hill junction, two ahead lanes will open in both directions, while separately signalled right-turn lanes to both East Bridgford and Newton villages will be created.
