Work will start on the main section of the Woodville to Swadlincote Regeneration Route next week.

A new road from Occupation Lane, Woodville to the A514 Derby Road/A514 Swadlincote Road, Swadlincote is being built and construction will get under way on October 26 - taking traffic away from Clock Island.

The work will take approximately 40 weeks to complete.

A Derbyshire County Council letter to local residents - via nmcn Ltd, a Nottinghamshire based contractor, appointed to build the road - says the road will create a new route for traffic between Ashby and the M1 corridor to Swadlincote that avoids the Clock Island which gets congested at peak times and has a poor accident record.

The letter adds: "The project was given the 'green light' to proceed by the Secretary of State for Transport in July through the confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Order to enable Derbyshire County Council to acquire land and the Side Roads Order to make changes to the local highways impacted by the project Local enterprise partnership will help fund completion of regeneration route

"Notices have since been issued on the affected parties giving notice of the Council's intention to take land confirmed through the Orders and allowing work to commence at the end of the month.

"The work entails the construction of approximately 900m of new carriageway, three roundabout junctions and other infrastructure to enable the road to function as a highway.

"The new highway will share many of the features and facilities enjoyed along the already completed Hepworth Road for route consistency.

"When completed, the road will facilitate new development on the former open cast mining areas to the west of Occupation Lane creating new homes, commercial land and jobs for local people.

"The road will also allow expansion within the industrial estate off Common Road which is not realising its full potential.

"The route will also make it easier for residents in the Woodville Woodlands and other conurbations to the east to access facilities in the Town Centre.

"Access to leisure areas from Swadlincote towards the National Forest areas to the southwest will also be improved through use of road cycle facilities and links to existing rights of way.

"Regrettably there will be some disruption to those living adjacent to the route and the motoring public during its construction.

"Please accept the Council's apologies in advance of this occurring and every reasonable effort will be made to minimise these impacts.

"Much of the work will be undertaken off the line of existing highways with only the tie-ins likely to require temporary traffic management and causing potential disruption to motorists.

"Some road closures overnight or at weekends may be necessary to undertake surfacing and other works throughout the construction period.

"Traffic will be diverted onto alternative parts of the highway network at these times."