Warning of A50 closure as Fiveways junction work continues

Drivers are being warned that a section of the busy A50 into and out of Leicester will be shut in both directions from Monday (October 30). The roadworks are part of the ongoing Fiveways junction remodelling^[1] and the 10-day closure will affect Woodgate between Marshall Street and Abbey Gate.

It will mean traffic into the city will be sent left onto Blackbird Road to enter the city via the A6, with the same route for traffic heading out of Leicester. The closure will begin on Monday and the route will be closed from 7.30am until 3.30pm each day for up to 10 days.

The closure is necessary because the work will include carriageway resurfacing. Woodgate should be fully open to traffic again by Thursday, November 11.

Martin Fletcher, Leicester City Council^[3] director of highways, said: “This is a major scheme that will make huge improvements to one of the most confusing junctions in Leicester. It will help simplify Fiveways for drivers and make it a much more attractive and route for all road users.

“It will make a huge difference for pedestrians, particularly residents, who will be able to cross the busy junction and get to the local shops safely. But the work will also improve the junction for cyclists, for the public transport network and, importantly, simplify the junction for motorists.”

There will be no further disruptions in the run-up to Christmas to avoid the city’s busiest shopping period. But work will recommence from Monday, January 10, 2024.

Mr Fletcher said the worst part for motorists was already over. He said: “We’re working hard to keep road closures to a minimum. We’re over the worst of the disruption now.

“With work to the main Fiveways junction recently completed, we are now working our way along Woodgate towards Frog Island. The ongoing works mean that we will still need to manage a rolling programme of short-term and partial road closures as we approach the final phases of the complex scheme.”

A signed diversion will be in place using Blackbird Road, Ravensbridge Drive, St Margaret’s Way, and Sanvey Gate. Side roads off Woodgate – Balfour Street, Marshall Street and Bassett Street – will all have their one-way restrictions suspended during the closure so homes can be accessed from the other end.

During the work, acess to Aldi will be via the rear entrance off Bradgate Street. Once improvements to Woodgate are finished early in the new year, a final phase of works will begin from Abbey Gate, over North Bridge and towards Frog Island and the Waterside development. Work on the major improvement scheme is expected to be complete by late spring 2024.

References

1. ^{^} ongoing Fiveways junction remodelling (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Warning over new restrictions at Fiveways A50 junction (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Leicester City Council (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)