A CONGESTION-busting £22million revamp of the Avon Mill roundabout has been discussed by regional transport chiefs, councillors and local business leaders.
The proposal to tackle tailbacks in and around Leicester Road by enlarging the roundabout and widening all entries and exits to three lanes was the subject of a meeting organised by sub-national transport body Midlands Connect, attended by Rugby MP Mark Pawsey, Warwickshire County Council (WCC) deputy leader Coun Peter Butlin, CEO of Midlands Connect Maria Machancoses and others.
After the meeting, WCC transport and planning spokesman Coun Wallace Redford said: “There has never been a better time to invest in Rugby and the wider Midlands. Our economy is at the forefront of innovation, spanning industries from advanced manufacturing and professional services to life sciences.
“We are spearheading the green revolution as the country commits to a carbon neutral future.
“Rugby and the Midlands, more than any other region, rely on resilient transport networks to prosper and that is why it is so critical to bring everyone around the table, to hear progress on this vital project and keep everyone informed.”
Under the proposed scheme, the junction between Newbold Road and Hunters Lane will be replaced with a new roundabout, which would connect to Avon Mill via a short dual carriageway on a new bridge over the River Avon.
The upgrades – which also include a new segregated foot and cycleway – are planned to help Rugby cope with extra traffic generated by the 12,400 new homes due to be built in the town by 2031.
Crossings on the A426 Leicester Road will also be improved, and the scheme will complete a ‘missing link’ in Rugby’s Cycle Network.
Midlands Connect says the upgrades will reduce congestion north of Rugby town centre, help improve bus service reliability, and make walking and cycling more attractive options for local journeys.
A spokesperson said: “Long queues on the approaches to Avon Mill lead to unreliable journey times and create a major bottleneck on the road network. If improvements aren’t made, more traffic will divert on to less suitable routes and its function as an important transport corridor will be compromised.”
The government has pledged £17million funding towards the scheme, with remaining costs to be met by WCC and developers.
When the funding was applied for in 2019, Midlands Connect said the scheme could be completed by 2025.
