Work to extend the Nottingham Express Transit system is to start on University
Boulevard on Monday 30th January with the clearance of vegetation and trees from the route of line three which will serve Chilwell via Beeston.
The work is due to take place on University Boulevard between East Drive and the Queens
Road East roundabout. It will be carried out in phases so as to try and keep the number of trees which are removed to a minimum. It is planned to minimise the amount of disruption by the work being undertaken off peak Monday to Thursday and during the day on Sundays. There will be a lane closure on University Boulevard for traffic heading to Beeston between 0930 and 1530 on Monday to Thursdays whilst on Sundays between 0800 and 1630 the permanent traffic lights at the University Boulevard/East Drive junction will be replaced by temporary traffic lights with a lane restriction on the city bound side of University Boulevard.
Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation at Nottingham City
Council, said: “The new tram lines have been carefully designed to keep tree removal to a minimum. The majority of the mature trees, which form the Boulevard effect, will remain. Once construction of this line is complete, semi-mature trees will be planted along University Boulevard to replace the ones that are removed to supplement the mature trees and retain the avenue of trees effect.”
It is planned that the space left by tree removal on University Boulevard will be filled by semi mature trees. This is part of a plan for a replacement tree planting programme which is due to take place once construction of phase two has been completed. As many trees will be planted as have been removed.
Once the tree clearance work has been completed the next stage of work on University
Boulevard is due to start in mid February which will see the commencement of the utility diversion works.
Phase Two of NET, which will include two further lines to Clifton and Chilwell, is due to
be completed by the end of 2014.
The lane closure on university boulevard now looks pretty perminant and is causing long delays. It is sure to get worse this week now that holidays are over and everyone is back in their car. How long will the lane be closed? Was it planned? I can’t find any warning or dates. It was supposed to be off-peak only wasn’t it?