National Highways’ planned A46 Newark Bypass project has been approved by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Despite the approval, there is currently no clear budget or timeframe outlined for the scheme. National Highways said that it will ‘identify the most efficient and cost-effective delivery timetables for this project’ with the DfT ‘in the coming months’.
Reports suggest the scheme could cost at least £350m, though figures differ widely.
The major project will upgrade a stretch of single carriageway on the A46, which is used by 17,000 drivers every day on average. The route was described as ‘the key trans-Midlands trade corridor linking to the Humber Ports’ by National Highways.
It is also expected that the scheme will help manage the bottleneck of traffic around Newark, as well as make the route safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
National Highways highlighted additional benefits, such as supporting 7,500 new homes, improving trade links and enabling access to the Newark Business Park and Newark Gateway, including the International Air and Space Training Institute (IASTI).
Project manager Izzy Tully said: ’We are delighted with today’s announcement which is a major milestone on the project to improve the A46 around Newark for the many thousands of people who use the route each day.
‘The A46 is an important route, supporting trade and the wider economy, and our upgrade will reduce delays by delivering much-needed additional capacity to the road and its junctions, as well as better connectivity and safer journeys for everyone.’
The scheme will include:
- Widening four miles of the existing single carriageway to a dual carriageway, to provide two lanes in each direction between Farndon and Winthorpe roundabouts near Newark-on-Trent.
- Creating a flyover at the Cattle Market roundabout for the A46 to pass over the junction.
- Building a new bridge over the A1.
- Enlarging Winthorpe roundabout and installing traffic lights to connect the new A46 link.
