Major roadworks on the A47 from Uppingham to Leicester this weekend will see some drivers forced to take an hour-long detour on a journey that normally takes 14 minutes.
Resurfacing works will see a one-mile section of the A47 closed in both directions at Skeffington from Friday night until Monday morning.
the works were meant to take place earlier this month but were called off due to cold weather.
This means motorists wanting to drive the nine-mile 14-minute section between Skeffington and Uppingham will have to go via Melton and Oakham - which is 40 miles and will take approximately 74 minutes.
Motorists wanting to go from Uppingham to Leicester would normally travel 19 miles along the A47 which takes about 35 minutes.
The diversion will see them take a 37-mile detour through Oakham then Melton to Leicester which takes about 71 minutes.
The A47 will be closed to traffic between 8pm on Friday March 22 until 6am on Monday March 25.
Leicestershire County Council, which has agreed to the road closure, has advised drivers to follow the diversions via Melton and Oakham.
A Leicestershire County Council spokesperson said: “A carriageway maintenance project is being delivered at the A47 Uppingham Road at Skeffington, which will be undertaken between the B6047 crossroads and Skeffington Glebe Road, on both sides of the carriageway.
“The maintenance works will improve the condition of a badly deteriorating road surface on a key section of the network.
This is where £1.1m will be spent repairing Leicester roads in the coming weeks
Having carefully considered all traffic management options it has been established that a road closure is the only safe and practical way to complete the works.
“The closures will take place over the weekend, starting on the Friday night in order to minimise disruption caused to the travelling public and other vehicles using the A47.
“Please note that on Sunday March 24 access to Skeffington village will only be via Rolleston. At other times residents of Skeffington will be marshalled though the works.
“Please allow time for the area to be made safe before being marshalled through."
The diversions
Eastbound traffic
At Skeffington, traffic will be diverted via the B6047 north to Melton, then south-east via the A606 to Oakham and finally via the A6003 back to the A47 at Uppingham.
The diversion route will be signed during the road closure.
Westbound traffic
At Uppingham, traffic will be diverted via the A6003 north to Oakham, then north-west via the A606 to Melton, then south-west via the A607 to the A46 at Cossington.
Traffic can then follow the signs for Leicester via the A46 / A607.
Traffic and travel - what you need to know
The diversion route will be signed during the road closure.
Drivers are being warned that on the following weekend will see temporary traffic lights on the A47 at Skeffington.
What the council says
A council spokesperson said: “From Saturday March 30 at 7am to 4pm on Sunday March 31 there will be stop-go boards to carry out the replacement of the existing drainage gullies.
“The works will comprise of resurfacing the badly deteriorating carriageway surface course, replacing the existing drainage gullies, relaying the road markings and relaying the road studs.
“In addition to the main carriageway resurfacing works, carriageway patching works will be undertaken between Skeffington Main Street and Lodge Farm.
“A traffic marshal will be on site to direct traffic and residents of Skeffington around the works.
"Leicestershire County Council apologises for any inconvenience caused during these works.”
