This article was updated on Monday 9 January 2023

The A52 gasworks are set to have a significant impact on road traffic surrounding the University Park campus from 9 January 2023 and new guidance is published today to help staff, students and visitors to plan their journeys to, and also through, the campus.

From Monday 9 January to Friday 31 March 2023, the westbound carriageway of the A52 Derby Road will be closed from the QMC roundabout junction, and the diversion proposed by National Highways circles the perimeter of the University Park campus.

This is likely to impact access to entrances and surrounding routes at peak times and, if not carefully managed, other drivers may seek to use campus routes as a ‘rat run’, presenting risks to campus safety and congestion levels.

Temporary barriers and routes will be introduced to ensure that members of our community can access and leave the University Park campus safely, and we can minimise the disruption and prevent other drivers from accessing campus.

Two new barrier gates, together with campus signage, will be installed at Cripps Health Centre and at Hallward Library to prevent non-university traffic using the campus as a ‘rat run.’ The barriers are designed to avoid the types of delays experienced during the Nottingham tram works, keep our community safe and minimise non-university traffic. Unfortunately, some disruption is still anticipated.

Colleagues will need to plan their car journeys through campus and drivers may find it quicker to park in new locations and walk across campus to their place of work. There will be signage throughout the university and a map has been created (see below) to show the different routes that are available.

Exemptions will be made for emergency service vehicles and for staff and students with accessibility issues (please see FAQs below). The accessibility minibus will still travel in the same way it does now, and colleagues who use disabled parking spaces will still be able to do so.

Whilst every effort will be made to avoid delays, the roadworks may also mean there are disruptions to catering and deliveries during this period and colleagues are asked to bear this in mind when making bookings and build in some flexibility into their plans.

Please be respectful to members of security staff who are helping to manage the barrier operation, redirect traffic and ensure the safe flow of vehicles through campus.

Where are the barriers?

Cripps Health Centre

Located just in front of the Zebra Crossing at Cripps Health Centre. Traffic coming up Cripps Hill can turn left or right down Lenton Hall Drive, before turning around and going back down Cripps Hill. Traffic coming up Beeston Lane will not be able to pass this point.

View the map

Hallward

Located on Cut Through Lane, between Hallward and The New Theatre, just after Cherry Tree Hill (coming from Portland).  Traffic coming up Cut Through Lane will be required to turn right down Library Road, and follow the network round to Cripps Hill, where they will have to turn right towards North entrance.

View the map

The map below has been created to show where you will be able to travel and park depending on which entrance you use:

Key:
Red line = lane closure
Green line = lane open as normal
Red square = start of lane closure
Yellow circle = temporary barrier
Blue stars = car parks accessible from West entrance
Green hexagons = car parks accessible from North and South entrances
Black dotted line = cars will not be able to pass this divide during the gas works
Orange arrows = traffic diversions

Which entrance should I use?

All entrances, including North entrance, are open. You should use the one easiest for you to access from home.

Where should I park?

Staff are advised to use car parking spaces closest to the entrance they use to get onto campus.

For North and South entrance this is the Visitors Car Park, Law and Social Sciences/ Monica Partridge, Life Science, Physics and around the L Buildings.

For those using West entrance this will be spaces at, Lincoln, Derby, Sherwood, Ancaster and Cavendish Halls, Trent and Jubilee Avenue, or the spaces on the road adjacent to EMCC.

I use the hopper buses – will services be affected?

With effect from Monday 9 January we are putting in place the following changes to the hopper bus services to mitigate and ease the congestion both on campus and on the surrounding network as a result of the lane closures on the A52.

• 901 – Sutton Bonington Service – this service will operate from East Drive only – anyone who usually gets this bus from Beeston Lane area will need to walk to East Drive to catch the bus.
• 903 – Jubilee Campus service – this service will operate from East Drive, anyone who usually gets this bus from Beeston Lane or Library road will need to walk to East Drive to catch the bus.
• 904 – Royal Derby – this service will operate from East Drive only, it will exit campus via the south entrance and will travel to Derby via the A453 and A50, so as to avoid the congestion on the A52. Anyone who usually catches this bus from West Entrance will need to walk to East Drive.

Whilst these changes have been put in place to try to minimise disruption to the hopper bus services the increased congestion in and around the city may impact on these scheduled services, so passengers are encouraged to think before they travel and ensure they leave plenty of time to make journeys.

I have accessibility issues – what do I do?

Speak to your line manager in the first instance. The accessibility minibus will still travel in the same way it does now. Blue badge holders will be able to pass through the barrier closest to Cripps Health Centre (Beeston Lane) between 8am and 6pm by showing their badge and university card to the member of the security team staffing the gate during these times.

Please note: outside of these times the barrier will not be staffed and therefore staff and students will need to use the diversions in place on campus. Staff who use disabled parking spaces will still be able to do so but may need to plan a new route into work.

Emergency Services

Exemptions will be made for emergency service vehicles travelling through campus but anyone requiring help in an emergency should contact security first (0115 951 8888) so they can best support, and direct vehicles coming onto campus if necessary.

Visitors and events

Those planning events or inviting visitors to campus should consider the impact of the traffic changes and avoid large-scale activity during rush hours.

Alternative transport options

Public transport

The university in collaboration with a number of public transport operators across the city offer a number of travel pass schemes. They offer staff the opportunity to purchase travel passes through salary deductions – there are a range of these available to support differing work patterns, many at discounted rates.

Cycle to Work

Cycling to work offers a flexible, fit and sustainable way to travel between our campuses and elsewhere. The university offers a comprehensive Cycle to Work scheme accessible through the Employee Hub and has increased the value of the scheme to enable staff to purchase bicycles up to the value of £2,000.

Further information

For all other queries relating to these measures contact parking@nottingham.ac.uk