A VITAL roundabout between Rugby and Lutterworth is at ‘critical mass’ and needs ‘urgent attention’ to prevent increasing congestion.
The Gibbet Hill junction – which links the A5 and A426 – is ‘nearly full’, according to a new analysis released by Midlands Connect.
The junction on the border between Warwickshire and Leicestershire is at 98 per cent capacity every morning.
The roundabout has been identified as the third worst bottleneck along the A5 corridor, and is struggling to cope with the 7,000 vehicles which pass through it every day – with the situation expected to deteriorate further as more housing and industrial developments are built.
Heavy congestion has been observed at the junction, particularly during peak times, with the volume of traffic close to exceeding capacity and resulting in delays and long queues.
This junction is an important strategic location interchange between the A5 and A426, providing connections between the M1 and M6 at the heart of England’s ‘Logistics golden triangle’ – an area from which drivers can reach 90 per cent of the population within four hours.
Rugby Borough Councillor Tony Gillias, Chair of the A5 Partnership, said: “When traffic snarls up, we see rat-running through nearby smaller villages, to avoid queuing at the junction, creating noise and speeding issues for residents.
“The junction is now at critical mass and requires the most urgent attention to complement the proactive work of local councils and their visions of growth, new jobs and prosperity for local people.
“We need a solution once and for all to fix this issue for local residents and the national economy.”
Midlands Connect’s Integrated Transport Programme Lead Swati Mittal said: “The A5 at Gibbet Hill is an area that we need to upgrade to unlock the growth the economy needs. At the moment the area is not fit for purpose.
“An intervention in this area is necessary to facilitate growth and jobs and allow us to then look at other parts of the A5 in the years ahead. This is the major piece in the puzzle.”
Coun Ozzy O’Shea, Leicestershire County Council’s spokesperson for highways and transport, said: “While the A5 is managed and maintained by National Highways, we fully support the work being done to secure improvements.
“As the highway authority, we know the A5 isn’t functioning, and we share the views of partners who are calling for improvements to be prioritised and additional funding made available.
“The urgent need is there to improve the road.”
Midlands Connect is the Midlands’ sub-national transport body. It works with local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, regional airports, chambers of commerce and the Department for Transport to champion long-term transport projects with economic, social and environmental benefits.
