Background
The A614/A616/A6075 Ollerton Roundabout is an important intersection on the County Council’s strategic road network. Currently around 30,000 vehicles per day pass through the junction.
Need for a scheme
Unfortunately the existing roundabout struggles to cope with the large volumes of traffic which pass through it, particularly at peak times. As a consequence long queues of vehicles can develop on a number of approaches to the junction and drivers can be significantly delayed. To avoid this congestion some traffic now uses unsuitable routes through the residential streets within Ollerton village and elsewhere. Planned and committed development in and around Ollerton is only likely to exacerbate the problem in the future if no solution can be achieved.
Major Improvement Scheme
Nottinghamshire County Council undertook extensive public consultation in 2007 and developed a preferred major improvement scheme, based on a significant enlargement to the existing roundabout. You can download a plan of this conventional roundabout option [PDF 709KB]
The proposed major improvement scheme will cost in excess of £3 million and has, unfortunately, been delayed while the County Council reviews its priorities and available funding.It is hoped that funding for the major improvement scheme can be secured in the future. The Council has, however, developed an interim scheme to improve the capacity of Ollerton roundabout, with particular reference to reducing vehicle queue lengths along Ollerton road.
Interim Improvement Scheme (2010)
This interim scheme aims to cut traffic queues on Ollerton Road (A616) and improve the capacity of the roundabout. The scheme provides two westbound lanes on the A616 Ollerton Road (towards the roundabout), one of which is a dedicated left-turn only lane. The Newark Road bus gate has been modified, to allow exit only for buses and no entry from either the roundabout or Ollerton Road. The altered road layout requires buses leaving Newark Road to give-way to traffic on Ollerton Road. You can download a plan of the interim roundabout scheme here [PDF 680 KB]. The scheme also incorporates a pedestrian refuge, to accommodate pedestrian movements along Ollerton Road, located approximately 150m from the roundabout.
The closure of the bus gate in one direction required an amendment to the eastbound commercialbus route, which serves Old Ollerton. The route diversion isvia Wellow Road and Back Lane. To facilitate this, a short section of Wellow Road will be widened between Bescar Road and Back Lane, to allow inter-visibility for buses using the route. An additional bus stop located on Back Lane, will improve access to the re-routed bus service.
