Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

The A46 is an important regional trunk road connecting the East and West Midlands. The section between Widmerpool and Newark carries between 16200 and 25300 vehicles per day, of which up to 15% are heavy goods vehicles. This level of traffic gives rise to frequent congestion and delay.

The existing A46 is generally straight and undulating as it follows the line of the old Roman Road - Fosse Way. This can make safe overtaking difficult and it is made worse by many junctions and accesses to fields, farms and houses. The road has a poor safety record - in the five years between 2001 and 2005 there have been 13 fatal, 56 serious and 222 slight accidents.

Bridleways and footpaths join and cross this section of the A46 but walkers, cyclists and horse-riders find it difficult to cross because of the traffic.

The Scheme

The Highways Agency is constructing a new 28km long two-lane dual carriageway from the A606 two level junction at Widmerpool to an improved roundabout at Farndon, just south of Newark.

The improvement will reduce congestion, improve safety and provide a bypass for East Stoke and Farndon.

New two level junctions will be provided at Roehoe, Owthorpe, Stragglethorpe, Saxondale, Margidunum, Red Lodge, Flintham and Lodge Lane.

Each carriageway will consist of two traffic lanes with a vertical concrete safety barrier along the whole length of the central reserve. We will surface the carriageways using low noise surfacing to minimise tyre noise on the road.

The roundabouts at Stragglethorpe, Saxondale, Margidunum and Farndon will be lit. We will also provide lighting on the new roundabout at the junction between Lodge Lane and the existing A46.

Some sections of the existing A46 will be retained for use by local traffic and some sections would be downgraded for use by cyclists, walkers and horse riders and for private means of access.

For more information about the project see the Key Events and Statutory Processes/Scheme History pages.

Update

Start of works

As a result of the Department of Transport's £1 billion fiscal stimulus package announced in November 2008, delivery of the A46 Scheme has been accelerated. See the Statutory Processes/Scheme History page for further information on fiscal stimulus.

Advanced works began in March 2009 to prepare the sites ready for start of works. For information on how the environmental aspects of the scheme have been managed see the Environmental Issues page.

The main construction works began in July 2009 with the road expected to open to traffic in summer 2012. See the Construction Progress page.

Traffic Management

The latest schedule of closures and restrictions is available from the Traffic Management page.

Details of Footpath Closures can be found on the Footpath Closures page.

Supplementary Orders

Following the Objection Period the Notice of Intention to hold a Public Inquiry into the Supplementary Orders was published on the 3rd July 2009.

The Public Inquiry was held at Cotgrave Welfare on 12th to 15th  January and 11th  to 12th February 2010. The Inquiry has been adjourned for eight weeks and will reconvene on Tuesday 13th April at 10am. Links to the Public Inquiry documents and Notices can be found on the Publications page.

See the Statutory Processes/Scheme History page for more information on the orders and Public Inquiry.