£2.3m Derby Road resurfacing scheme set to begin in May

Motorists using one of Burton’s busiest routes may want to allow a little extra time for their journeys this summer, as a major road improvement project is about to get underway.

A £2.3 million resurfacing scheme on Derby Road will begin on Monday 11 May, with work expected to last around three months. The project will improve the stretch of road between Derby Turn island and the Pirelli roundabout, two key gateways into and out of Burton.

As many regular commuters will know, Derby Road sees a steady flow of traffic throughout the day, so it’s no surprise the surface has taken a bit of a battering over the years. The good news is that this work will give the route a much-needed refresh and should make journeys smoother for everyone once it’s complete.

How the work will be carried out

The scheme will take place in two main phases.

From Monday 11 May, crews will begin civil engineering works along the route. During this stage, a one-way traffic system will be in place while the groundwork is carried out.

Later in the summer, attention will turn to resurfacing the road itself. From Monday 6 July, contractors will carry out overnight resurfacing between 7pm and 6am, Monday to Friday.

Alongside the new road surface, the works will also include:

• Repairs to ironworks
• Cleaning (jetting) of highway gullies
• Fresh road markings

The resurfacing will be completed in five stages to help maintain access for residents and businesses along the route.

Expect some delays

Because Derby Road is such an important route into town, some disruption and congestion is likely, particularly during the earlier phases of the project.

Diversions will be in place via Hawkins Lane and the A38, and while access to homes and businesses will be maintained where possible, on-street parking will be temporarily restricted for safety reasons.

It’s not ideal for drivers in the short term, but the end result should be a much smoother and more durable road for the thousands of vehicles that use this route every day.

Part of a bigger improvement plan

This project is the final phase of a wider highways programme aimed at improving the route running from the A38 Clay Mills interchange through to Derby Road, helping keep one of Burton’s key transport corridors in good shape.

Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, Peter Mason, said the work was needed because the road has become heavily worn due to the amount of traffic using it.

He added that while some disruption is inevitable, overnight resurfacing has been planned to keep daytime delays to a minimum wherever possible.

Letters have already been sent to affected residents and businesses with more details about the scheme.

So if your regular commute takes you along Derby Road this summer, it may be worth planning a little extra time. With luck - and a bit of patience now - the journey should be noticeably smoother by the end of it.