A LONG-AWAITED congestion-busting £24.3million project to ease a bottleneck on a main road in Rugby has moved a step closer.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is looking for feedback on proposals to improve traffic flow at the Avon Mill roundabout and Hunters Lane junction on the A426 and A4071.
The scheme, which was first announced in 2015, proposes to tackle tailbacks by enlarging the roundabout and adding additional lanes on entries and exits.
The junction between Newbold Road and Hunters Lane would be replaced with a new roundabout, which would connect to the Avon Mill junction via a short dual carriageway on a new bridge to be built over the River Avon.
Warwickshire County Council says the scheme will reduce congestion and help Rugby cope with extra traffic.
A second new bridge would be built for a new footpath and cycleway connecting the A426 Leicester Road to Wood Street, and crossings on the A426 Leicester Road would be improved to provide safer access to Avon Valley School.
WCC says the scheme will reduce congestion, promote active travel, and help Rugby cope with extra traffic generated by the 12,400 new homes due to be built in the town by 2031.
The scheme is currently estimated to cost around £24.3million, subject to review.
The project has so far secured £2.76million in funding – £2.4million from developer contributions, £260,000 from the Department for Transport’s Major Road Network (MRN) fund, and £100,000 from WCC. The council hope to secure the remaining funding from the MRN fund.
It is currently anticipated that construction could start by Spring/Summer 2025, subject to design, funding and planning approvals.
WCC transport and planning spokesman Coun Jan Matecki said: “We’re committed to ensuring residents have access to excellent transport infrastructure that supports their needs. This scheme is crucial to tackle congestion, improve journey times, and provide more travel options for people in Rugby, whether they’re driving, cycling, or walking.
“We are fully committed to working with residents and stakeholders to develop a scheme that meets the needs of the community and delivers lasting benefits for Rugby.”
Following the assessment of feedback from local residents and businesses, a planning application will be submitted later in 2024, with another opportunity for public feedback. WCC says residents will be regularly updated on progress.
Information events on the scheme will be held on Thursday February 22, 4-7pm, at The Benn Hall; Saturday February 24, 10am-4pm, at Rugby Central Shopping Centre; and Wednesday February 21, 7pm, online.
Visit https://youtu.be/UI96wHMKG7k to watch a video showing traffic modelling before and after the proposed improvements.
Visit http://tinyurl.com/mryampbm for more informaiton and to complete a survey about the scheme. The closing date for feedback is midnight on March 20.
