A453 widening could start by 2015, says Highways Agency

A453, which links the M1 in Leicestershire and Nottingham, carries about 32,000 vehicles a day

Work to widen one of the busiest roads in the East Midlands could start within three years, the Highways Agency said.

Plans to turn the A453 between Nottingham and the M1 into a dual carriageway were approved by the government on Wednesday.

Politicians and business leaders have been calling for Nottinghamshire's A453 to be improved for a number of years.

The 11-mile (17.7km) section, between the M1 in Leicestershire and Nottingham, suffers severe congestion.

The A453 project manager Jonathan Pizzey said the funding was available in the next three years, but Transport Secretary Justine Greening has to give approval for the work to begin.

Economy boost

Mr Pizzey said: "It's going to be happening within the next one to three years.

"We're hoping the decision will be made early in the new year which could lead to construction fairly quickly."

Nottinghamshire County Council said the widening project would give a £540m boost to the East Midlands economy.

Kay Cutts, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said she was "absolutely thrilled" with the government's decision to bring forward the A453 widening scheme.

Improvements to the A453 route, which carries about 32,000 vehicles a day, have been under discussion since the 1970s.