Proposals to turn a single lane stretch of the A46 into dual carriageway have been widely supported by the public in a consultation.

National Highways is planning to build the A46 Newark Bypass, calling a “critical part of our investment to make all our major roads more dependable, durable and most importantly, safe”.

The planned improvements to the route that connects the M1 and Leicester to the A1 and central Lincolnshire will mean widening around four miles (6.5km) 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.

The statutory consultation took place between Wednesday 26 October and Monday 12 December 2022 with more than 730 people visiting one of the events either in person or online. Attendees were able to learn more about our designs for the A46 Newark Bypass, speak to the project team and share their feedback. During this consultation period National Highways received 539 responses.

Ngozi Abakasanga, Project Manager for National Highways, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to our consultation. Your comments will help us further shape the A46 Newark Bypass scheme, enabling us to improve safety, congestion and connectivity in the town and wider region.”

Almost two-thirds of people strongly agreed improvements were needed, while 54% of the 539 respondents said they were either very satisfied or satisfied with the proposals.

National Highways says it now expects to submit its application to the Planning Inspectorate this summer.

If the Development Consent Order application is accepted by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, an Examining Authority will consider the application, and any representations, which will take up to six months. During the examination stage, anybody with an interest in the scheme can make representations in writing, or verbally at public hearings.

(Picture – National Highways)