Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

The A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement is part of a package of works which also includes the M40 Junction 15 Bypass.

At current traffic levels, approximately 90,000 vehicles use the A45 / A46 Tollbar End roundabout every day. This level of traffic is significantly greater than the existing junction's design capacity, which results in congestion, significant queuing onto Tollbar End roundabout and long delays. These problems will be compounded by other committed developments in the area.

Our main scheme objectives are to provide relief from this congestion, improve journey times and reduce driver frustration by improving the capacity of the Tollbar End roundabout and the A45 Stonebridge Highway, benefitting both local and strategic road needs.

The main proposals are:

• To reduce the volume of traffic using Tollbar End roundabout by providing a two-lane dual-carriageway underpass link between the A46 Coventry Eastern Bypass and the A45 Stonebridge Highway. We would also enlarge the roundabout and improve all the existing accesses.
• The existing A45 Stonebridge Highway would be widened to a three-lane dual-carriageway, between the new Tollbar End junction and Stivichall junction. This would improve capacity and allow traffic to maneuver safely into the required lane on approach to the junctions.
• To improve access to local businesses and Coventry Airport by changing the junction of Siskin Drive and Rowley Road from a roundabout to a traffic light controlled junction.
• Traffic lights would be erected on each entry arm to the new Tollbar End roundabout. The signals would be connected to those at the Siskin Drive / Rowley Road junction and timings would be controlled so that they provide maximum efficiency in allowing traffic through the area.
• New sign gantries would be erected, and we would re-paint the lane markings to improve the northbound A46 approach to Stivichall junction. The existing road signs in this area of the Scheme would also be improved.
• To improve pedestrian access around Tollbar End roundabout and create a new footpath / cycleway along the southern side of the A45, linking the two junctions together.

Recent Scheme Development

Draft Orders and an Environmental Statement for the scheme were published on 26 March 2009 and a public exhibition of the proposals was held in Coventry on 24 and 25 April 2009. The Highways Agency invited comments on and objections to the draft Orders up to 25 June 2009. The Environmental Statement and the Non-Technical Summary may be downloaded from the Publications page.

In light of the objections and comments received, the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is to hold a public local inquiry into the proposals in January 2010. The inquiry gives objectors and others the opportunity to be heard before an independent Inspector. A copy of the formal notice of intention to hold a Public Inquiry and Pre-Inquiry meeting may be downloaded from the Publications page.

The Highways Agency published its Outline Statement of Case on 17 September 2009, which summarises the principal submission in support of the draft Orders that will be put forward at the Public Inquiry. A copy of this may be downloaded from the Publications page.

The Pre-Inquiry meeting was held on 26 October 2009, at the Holiday Inn, Coventry South. All persons with an interest in the scheme were invited to attend. A copy of the formal notice of the Pre-Inquiry meeting may be downloaded from the Publications page.

The Highways Agency published its Statement of Case and Proofs of Evidence, on 23 November 2009, in support of draft Orders that will be put forward at the Public Inquiry. A copy of these documents may be downloaded from the Publications page.

The Public Inquiry was held from 26 January 2010 to 3 February 2010 at the Holiday Inn, Coventry South.

For more information on the A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement scheme, e-mail a45a46tollbarendimprovement@highways.gsi.gov.uk