Multi-million pound funding for junction 'improvement scheme' on A46 granted

The council announced that the Department for Transport released £18.1million of funding for the scheme.
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Funding of £18.1million has been allocated by the Department of Transport for an 'improvement scheme' for a junction on the A46.

Warwickshire County Council and partners Coventry City Council and Warwick District Council have announced that the funding had been granted for Warwickshire County Council’s Stoneleigh Junction Improvement Scheme.

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Along with contributions from Warwickshire County Council, the West Midland Combined Authority and other key strategic partners on the scheme, the total funding amount for the improvement works of £38.3m is now in place.

The Stoneleigh junction. Image by Warwickshire County CouncilThe Stoneleigh junction. Image by Warwickshire County Council
The Stoneleigh junction. Image by Warwickshire County Council

According to Warwickshire County Council 'The A46 Stoneleigh Junction Improvement Scheme will see a major improvement implemented at the Stoneleigh junction on the A46 between Coventry and Kenilworth to form a signalised gyratory layout with a two-bridge roundabout.'

The council also said that the scheme when complete will also 'help to mitigate the impact of the construction traffic generated during the HS2 construction phase'.

The works will involve installing a new bridge over the A46, realigning Stoneleigh Road and Dalehouse Lane to the west of the junction, a relocated and enlarged roundabout at the Stoneleigh Road/Dalehouse Lane junction and a new bridge over Finham brook.

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Councillor Jeff Clarke, portfolio holder for transport and planning, said: “These works illustrate Warwickshire County Council’s commitment that our businesses and communities are supported by excellent transport infrastructure.

“The existing Stoneleigh junction was constructed in the 1970’s as part of the A46 Kenilworth bypass and no longer meets the needs of modern traffic.

"Traffic levels have changed considerably since its construction and this is all too evident in the amount of congestion that regularly builds around the Stoneleigh Road and Dalehouse Lane during rush hour. These improvements will significantly improve traffic flow and ease the current levels of congestion and will see the junction fit for the challenges of the future.”

However Green Party Councillor Jonathan Chilvers did not welcome the news.

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He said: “This is a stupendous misuse of almost £40m of our taxpayer’s money.

"Councils and government say they want to tackle climate change, but in practice put massive sums of money into bigger roads which will create more dangerous air pollution.

"This cash could have been invested in rail and bus services more of us could use between Coventry, the University, Kenilworth and Leamington so that the road doesn’t need widening in the first place.

"The scheme is a relic of old outdated thinking and should be cancelled.”