National Highways' consultation finds two thirds agree Newark A46 improvements are needed
Almost two thirds of people who responded to National Highways’ public consultation on plans to upgrade the A46 Newark bypass in Nottinghamshire strongly agreed improvements are needed.
And more than half (54%) of the 539 respondents said they were either very satisfied or satisfied with National Highways’ proposed improvements.
Just over 70% of respondents said they were either extremely dissatisfied or dissatisfied with congestion levels while 51% said they were extremely dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the current layout.
The consultation was carried out between October and December last year.
National Highways senior project manager Phil Boffey said: “We would like to thank all the people who took the time to respond to our public consultation. Considering the views of those affected by the scheme is very important, and we are working hard to ensure we can design and deliver a scheme that benefits everyone.
“Feedback has already helped to inform some design changes. We’ll be carrying out targeted consultations with statutory consultees and affected landowners to seek their views on our latest design. We’ll share further details on this soon.”
All feedback from last year’s public consultation and ongoing engagement will help to define the final design which will be submitted in an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO). This is made to the Planning Inspectorate who examine the application and then make a recommendation to the Transport Secretary who decides whether the scheme will go ahead or not. The application is expected to be submitted this summer.
The bypass will upgrade a stretch of single carriageway on the A46 which is used by, on average, 17,000 drivers every day as the key Trans-Midlands Trade Corridor connecting the M5 with the Humber Ports.
This will help to create a continuous dual carriageway from Lincoln to Warwick which will have national significance for travel and the economy as well as easing congestion on the outskirts of Newark.
Proposals for the bypass include:
lA flyover junction at Cattle Market with the A46 elevated to pass over the roundabout. This will separate through traffic from local traffic improving safety for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists.
lWinthorpe junction will be enlarged with traffic lights to connect the new A46 link.
lA short section of new dual carriageway over the A1, including slip roads to Brownhills roundabout and a new bridge to the north of the existing A46 bridge over the A1.
lA new single lane carriageway between Friendly Farmer and Winthorpe roundabouts providing links to the A17, A1 and Newark.
lAdding traffic lights to Farndon junction to improve flows during peak hours.
