Plans for major A46 junction redesign approved

4 hours ago

Alec BlackmanWest Midlands

News image — A CGI image of the re-designed Walsgrave junction on the A46 near Coventry

National Highways Aerial computer generated image of how the re-designed junction will look. — A CGI image of the re-designed Walsgrave junction on the A46 near Coventry

Proposals to redesign a major junction on the A46 in the West Midlands have been approved by the Department for Transport.

The project for the Walsgrave junction, to the east of Coventry, will cost £112.5m and should take two years to complete.

At present, the junction is a roundabout with three entries and exits, which National Highways claim creates a bottleneck and congestion for traffic heading both east and west.

Under the redesign, a flyover would be installed, allowing traffic to flow more freely, while vehicles would leave or join the A46 via two new roundabouts.

National Highways project manager Emma Winter said: "The upgraded Walsgrave junction will reduce delays, provide extra capacity, improve connectivity, and make journeys safer for the 57,000 drivers who use this road every day."

National Highways Aerial view of the existing A46 Walsgrave junction. A roundabout sits in between two fields, with houses seen beyond the fields in the distance. — The existing layout of the A46 Walsgrave junction causes congestion, leading to longer journey times and more queues, according to National Highways

Work is expected to start in late 2026, with the redesigned junction fully open to traffic in 2028.

A traffic management proposal for the duration of the work has outlined narrowed lanes, a temporary speed limit reduction to 40mph, and occasional road closures.

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