Funding for interchange upgrade to be considered

A traffic hotspot in Derby looks set to benefit from a £3.75m upgrade to improve safety.

Funding for changes to the A52 Spondon Interchange and the roundabout near Asda to "provide greater control of traffic flows" is being proposed by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

Documents show new traffic lights and pedestrian crossings around the roundabout, including links to and from the A52.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the project formed part of EMCCA's wider £79.4m investment in road maintenance and repairs across the region in the coming financial year.

Documents published ahead of a transport committee meeting on Thursday describe the route as "a road safety problem" that fails to meet modern standards and "deters active travel users".

The report adds: "This project will improve active travel facilities on the Nottingham Road corridor, removing a significant barrier and providing connectivity."

Work could be completed by late 2027 or early 2028, according to a draft timetable.

The plans include "signalising the roundabout" to manage traffic more effectively and upgrading safety features to current standards.

Funding for the scheme will be considered by EMCCA's transport committee this week before going to the authority's board for final approval in March.

East Midlands Midlands mayor Claire Ward said: "This proposed investment shows our commitment to keeping roads safe and reliable for everyone in the East Midlands.

"By acting now, we can tackle years of wear and tear, support local communities, and make journeys smoother for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

"This decisive action shows we are ready to deliver in 2026."

Carmel Swan, Derby City Council's cabinet member for transport, added the plans were "excellent news" for the city.

Jonathan Smale, city councillor for Spondon and deputy leader of the Derby Conservatives, told the BBC the "biggest concern" for residents was the idea of traffic lights at the roundabout.

He said: "There are some residents on Merchant Avenue that do have some problems pulling out, but again that could be corrected with better lane markings.

"It does not necessarily have to be facilitated with traffic lights. I do not think people want to see the default option of, 'let's put traffic lights on it'.

"I think it just slows traffic down and annoys motorists."

Smale said, however, that he was "all for" improving the roundabout. He said some of the lane direction markings were "vague" and that the layout could be improved.

He added: "There is some concern that this project can be seen as a starting gun for the expansion of the cycle network on to the main roads in Spondon."

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