A CONGESTION-busting revamp of the Avon Mill roundabout has been given the green light.
A proposal to tackle tailbacks in and around Leicester Road by enlarging the roundabout and widening all entries and exits to three lanes secured government funding in yesterday’s (Wednesday March 11) budget.
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.
The planned upgrades to the Avon Mill roundabout.
The scheme, which was included in a priority list for government funding by transport body Midlands Connect, is due to cost an estimated £22million. The government has pledged £17million, with remaining costs to be met by Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and developers.
WCC has said the revamp will benefit all road users.
Midlands Connect’s head of technical programmes Simon Statham said Rugby needed a reliable road network to create jobs and build new homes.
He said: “WCC provided compelling evidence that this scheme will help create new jobs and homes, ease congestion for road users and encourage more walking and cycling by targeting improvements at one of the busiest congestion pinch points in the area.”
When the funding was applied for last August, Midlands Connect said the scheme could be completed by 2025.
The Observer has contacted WCC for more information.
