The biggest change this morning is on public transport: there are no tram services anywhere in Nottingham today because of strike action.
The shutdown coincides with Goose Fair and comes while severe delays remain possible around the Maid Marian Way demolition works, putting additional pressure on buses and city-centre roads.
No major fresh collision or emergency closure causing widespread disruption has been identified in the early checks on Nottinghamshire’s M1, A1, A46 or A52, although significant planned roadworks remain in place.
Trams – no services today
There are no NET tram services today, Friday 2 October, because of industrial action.
There will also be no tram service tomorrow, Saturday 3 October.
This means The Forest tram stop is unavailable for Goose Fair visitors on both days.
NET says its Park and Ride car parks remain open during the strike and parking enforcement will not operate on days when no tram service is running.
Trams are currently scheduled to return on Sunday 4 October.
Buses – extra pressure during tram strike
Nottingham City Transport is operating its existing timetables across its full network today, rather than a special tram-replacement service.
Navy 48/48A, which serves The Meadows and Clifton, will operate mainly with its normal single-deck fleet today, with some double-deckers used where available. NCT says the additional double-deckers used during last weekend’s tram strike are required for school and university services today.
Passengers travelling to Goose Fair can use NCT’s Brown, Lime, Yellow and Purple Line services, which serve Mansfield Road at Forest Gate from the city centre.
People who normally use tram Park and Ride can also use NCT’s bus Park and Ride services at Queens Drive and Racecourse, while South Notts 1 and Navy 48/48A serve close to Clifton South.
NET tram tickets are not valid on NCT buses, so tram passengers transferring to NCT need to pay the normal bus fare.
Maid Marian Way – severe delays remain a risk
The tram shutdown comes at a difficult time for Nottingham’s bus network because the Maid Marian Way contraflow remains in operation.
NCT continues to describe delays caused by the demolition works as severe.
Lane restrictions and temporary traffic lights are operating while the former Broad Marsh NCP car park is demolished, and further bus-stop changes may be introduced depending on congestion.
South Notts 1, Navy 4 and 48/A and Pathfinder 90 do not stop on Maid Marian Way towards the city.
Red 45/B uses the Nottingham Lighting Centre stop instead of The Salutation and Canal Street instead of the stop beneath the former car park.
Turquoise 77/C, 78/A/B and 79/B are currently terminating at NTU City Campus, with outward journeys beginning from Upper Parliament Street stop U3. Broad Marsh, Lace Market and Victoria Centre are therefore not served by those journeys.
trentbarton Maid Marian Way update also warns of delays through the contraflow, with the inbound St Nicholas Church stop closed during this phase.
Given the combination of no trams, Goose Fair and the Maid Marian Way restrictions, city-centre bus delays are the main issue to watch as the morning peak develops.
Roads and motorways
No major fresh unplanned incident causing widespread disruption has been identified in the early checks on the M1 through Nottinghamshire, A1, A46 or A52.
There are, however, continuing lane restrictions on the A52 at Wheatcroft.
Live roadworks information lists lane closures in both directions around the A52/A606 Wheatcroft junction, with parts of the traffic management continuing beyond today.
This remains a potential pressure point for traffic travelling between West Bridgford, Ruddington, Nottingham Knight and the A46.
A52 – Dunkirk closures tonight
There is another significant A52 restriction to note for later today.
The A52 eastbound entry slip from the A6005 at Dunkirk is scheduled to close between 20:00 tonight and 05:00 Saturday for maintenance.
The eastbound exit for the A6005 is also scheduled to close overnight.
West Bridgford – Rectory Road
Gas works continue on Rectory Road in West Bridgford until Friday 9 October.
Green 7, 8 and 9 towards Nottingham cannot serve Central Avenue Shops.
Buses use Rectory Road and Bridgford Road before resuming their normal route near the Co-op.
Green 5/A, 6 and 12/C/E continue to serve Central Avenue.
Arnold – final day of diversions
Today is the scheduled final day of the current works on Arnold High Street.
Between 09:30 and 15:30, buses do not serve the Arnold High Street stop behind ASDA.
The changes affect NCT 25, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 58.
Lime 56 towards Nottingham also misses Croft Road and Ravenswood Road, diverting via Coppice Road.
Nuthall Road
Phase two of the resurfacing programme on Nuthall Road continues.
Weekday overnight closures are scheduled until Wednesday 14 October, affecting NCT Yellow 71/B and Turquoise 79/B.
With the tram network closed today, disruption on alternative bus corridors is particularly worth watching.
Goose Fair – expect heavier traffic
Goose Fair continues at Forest Recreation Ground through Sunday 4 October.
NCT is warning of delays to services passing close to the site and advises passengers to allow extra time.
With no trams today, additional traffic and bus demand can be expected around Mansfield Road, Gregory Boulevard, Forest Road and the Forest Recreation Ground, particularly later in the day.
Rail
No major fresh incident affecting Nottinghamshire’s principal rail routes has been identified in the early check.
National Rail’s current engineering list does not show a major planned daytime closure affecting Nottingham today.
Passengers using East Midlands Railway should nevertheless check individual journeys before travelling, particularly given continuing timetable changes across parts of the network.
Other bus disruption
Roadworks on Derby Road continue to cause delays to NCT 18, Orange 34/C, 35/A/B and 36 and hopper 903.
The Hillside stop towards the city or Jubilee Campus remains closed. The Ryehill Street stop towards Trent Bridge is also closed for roadworks, affecting Navy, Green and Pathfinder 90 services. Passengers are directed to the next stop at Victoria Embankment.
Looking ahead – A52 Clifton Bridge
A substantial new programme of overnight works starts on Monday 5 October around A52 Clifton Bridge.
National Highways is carrying out lighting works between 20:00 and 06:00 from 5 to 13 October.
The first phase includes closure of the A453 northbound to A52 westbound link, including the Silverdale entry slip, from 5 to 7 October.
The A52 Queens Drive Flyover is then scheduled to close overnight on Thursday 8 October, followed by further restrictions through 13 October.
