Football fans are being warned of significant delays caused by major road works taking place on one of the key routes into the city.
The work is part of a £3million programme funded by the Department for Transport Local Highways Maintenance Challenge to repair or resurface much of Welford Road between the city centre and outer ring road.
The section of Welford Road between Greenhill Road and Chapel Lane in Knighton will be closed to all outbound traffic from July 31 to August 5 and with Leicester City Football Club due to play a friendly against Villarreal on 4 August 2021, it’s likely a significant proportion of matchday motorists will be impacted. However, local diversions will be in place and signposted throughout.
Work is also ongoing at neighbouring Putney Road West, as part of a major link road scheme to connect it to the junction of Aylestone Road and Saffron Lane, which is part funded by £3.2million from the Government’s National Productivity Investment Fund. No works will be taking place there on the day of the football match, but the ongoing scheme means there is no parking permitted on Putney Road West.
The Welford Road scheme is progressing on schedule, with work now completed this week on the section from Shackerdale Road to Windley Road. It brings to an end all the work in that area, including the resurfacing of the Welford Road/Palmerston Junction and all of Asquith Way.
Leicester deputy city mayor for environment and transport, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “This resurfacing work is a major project which is necessary to ensure the road surfaces and pavements are in good condition for years to come.
“Inevitably it involves lane closures and some disruption to traffic.
“We have liaised with the football club to ensure travelling fans are aware of the road works taking place at the time of the Villarreal match, so they can allow extra time for their journeys.”
In total, the Welford Road scheme involves repairing and resurfacing 10,000 square metres of footway and 45,000 square metres of carriageway over three months in Leicester’s Knighton, Castle and Saffron wards.
Details of all traffic and travel in the city are available on Twitter from Area Traffic Control on @ATCLeicester
By Gita Sarasia
