Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

26/06/2009

Major boost to economy as work on fast link between A1 and M1 started early by Transport Minister

Work on a vital scheme to widen the busy A46 in Nottinghamshire - accelerated for delivery as part of the Department for Transport's £700 million fiscal stimulus package - was officially started today by Transport Minister Chris Mole. 

When the scheme is complete in 2012, four years earlier than previously planned, the 17-mile stretch of single carriageway road between Newark and Widmerpool will be upgraded to dual carriageway - increasing capacity and improving journey times and road safety.

The Transport Minister today started construction work at a ceremony near East Bridgford, Notts.

Chris Mole said:

"The Government is committed to building Britain's future and supporting construction industry jobs by bringing forward investment in key projects wherever possible to help stimulate the economy, so I am delighted work on dualling the A46 between Newark and Widmerpool is starting today - three years earlier than originally planned.

"The Department for Transport's offer in November last year to contribute £174m of additional funding to the Region for the scheme - half the estimated future cost - has allowed construction to be accelerated. This will bring a huge boost to the economy and construction industry by bringing forward the creation or safeguarding of 500 jobs.

"It will also benefit road users and many businesses in the region by providing quicker, more reliable and safer journeys between three of the major economic centres in the East Midlands - Nottingham and Leicester to Newark, the A1 corridor and onwards to Lincoln."

Phil Hope, Regional Minister for the East Midlands, said:

"I welcome today's official start of work as this marks the beginning of a much-welcomed project that will play a key part in boosting the local economy. The A46 is a key route between Newark and Leicester, which for many years has been congested, causing problems for regular and occasional users. Additionally, this upgrade will make the road safer for drivers.

"The improvements will help ease congestion and provide relief for local residents by bypassing the villages of East Stoke and Farndon. As well as this, Newark will benefit from improved links to many other East Midland hubs such as Nottingham and Leicester. I wish the construction team well over the next three years."

The work will dual the last remaining single carriageway section between M1 J21a north of Leicester and Newark Western Relief Road.

Plans detailing how the busy A46 between Newark and Widmerpool will be dualled go on show to the public in a series of exhibitions which start in Nottinghamshire today.
 

Notes to editors

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. The A46 is an important regional route in the East Midlands linking Leicester and Lincoln.

3. Congestion and unreliable journey times are key problems on the last remaining single carriageway stretch between Newark Western Relief Road and Widmerpool. Accident rates on the southern section are higher than the national average for a single carriageway road.

4. As well as upgrading the route to dual carriageway standard, the scheme will provide eight full grade-separated junctions and an improved roundabout at Farndon. Bypasses will be provided for East Stoke and Farndon.

5. Following the introduction of Regional Funding Allocations in 2005/06 the region prioritised the scheme for funding and scheduled the start of works date to 2012/13.

6. Subject to the outcome of statutory processes, in November last year DfT offered to contribute £174m of additional funding to the Region - half the estimated future cost - to allow the scheme to be accelerated for delivery. The Region confirmed the scheme was a priority for funding and was willing to provide the other half from the Government's Regional Funding Allocation.

7. In December scheme orders were approved following a public inquiry, allowing work to start this summer.

8. The Highways Agency is delivering £400 million capital spending during 2009-10 which has been brought forward as part of the Government's fiscal stimulus measures to boost the economy. Up to £100 million of this has been allocated to accelerate the A46 Newark to Widmerpool scheme.

9. The A46 Newark to Widmerpool Improvement will be carried out by Balfour Beatty on behalf of the Highways Agency. The scheme designers are Scott Wilson and supervising agents are Jacobs.

10. Further information about the scheme can be found at http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/4403.aspx where you can register for free email updates as the scheme progresses.

11. The Highways Agency expresses the cost estimate for a scheme as a range from a realistic minimum to a realistic maximum.  The revised cost estimate for this scheme ranges from £357m to £408m.

12. The Highways Agency, its agents Jacobs, contractor Balfour Beatty and scheme designers Scott Wilson are staging a number of exhibitions where members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions. 

13. The exhibitions will be held at the following venues: 

• Friday, 26 June, 3.30pm to 8pm, and Sunday, 28 June, 10am to 4pm at Cotgrave Welfare, Woodview, Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire, NG12 3LA; and
• Friday, 10 July 2pm to 8pm, and Saturday, 11 July, 10am to 4pm, at Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark, NG24 1DU

Issued on behalf of the Highways Agency by COI News & PR East Midlands.  For enquiries from the media, journalists and researchers only, please contact Dee Smith at COI on 0115 971 2788 or dee.smith@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443.