A multi-million pound roads scheme in the Midlands has been given the green light. Lord Hendy, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander, approved a Development Consent Order (DCO) today for the A46 Walsgrave junction upgrade project, which is part of the crucial Trans-Midlands Trade Corridor between the M5 and Humber Ports.
The A46 is one of the UK’s major trade routes, serving millions of people, supporting jobs, and connecting inland manufacturing and distribution hubs with major ports.
The Walsgrave junction connects the A46 to the B4082 and is currently a three-arm priority roundabout, which causes substantial congestion in the area. The new-look junction will allow for a free flowing A46 carriageway while also enabling drivers to enter and exit the local road network.
National Highways Project Manager Emma Winter said:
“Motorways and major A roads play a key role in keeping the UK economy moving, carrying a third of all traffic and two thirds of freight. The A46 is a major trade corridor between the South West, the Midlands and the North, which is why we need to remove this bottleneck on the outskirts of Coventry.
“The new-look Walsgrave junction will reduce delays by delivering much-needed additional capacity, better connectivity and safer journeys for the 57,000 drivers using the road every day.”
Construction on the Walsgrave junction is expected to begin in autumn 2026, with the £112 million scheme opening to traffic in 2028.
(Picture: National Highways)
