Major Update on £500m Plan for A46 Newark Bypass Creating New Flyover
National Highways updates on the £500m A46 Newark Bypass project, aiming to ease traffic with a new flyover and dual carriageway.
A46, Newark, Nottinghamshire, Flyover, Traffic, Flooding
Newark: National Highways has shared big news about the A46 Newark Bypass. This £500 million project aims to add extra lanes and a flyover to help with traffic. Officials say they are halfway through reviewing the Development Consent Order, which is needed for construction.
The review should wrap up by April 2025. After that, examiners will write a report for the Secretary of State for Transport. They will decide if the project can move forward. The plan includes a new flyover and turning parts of the single-lane road into a dual carriageway.
Residents hope this will reduce the traffic jams that often clog the area. Currently, the road is a single carriageway from Farndon Roundabout to Castle Market Roundabout and from there to Brownhills Roundabout.
A spokesperson from National Highways said they are still preparing for the project. They are moving ahead despite a spending review by the Department for Transport. They plan to start survey work soon to gather data on ecology and archaeology.
You might see their teams in high-visibility gear working near the proposed road from March to September 2025. Some locals worry about potential flooding if the project goes ahead. At a recent planning meeting, many supported the bypass but raised concerns about flooding risks.
Senior planning officer Lynsey Preston mentioned worries about building on a floodplain. While compensation areas will be created for floodwater, it’s unclear when they will be ready or if they will be enough.
Councillor Emma Oldham expressed her concerns about flooding, noting that the area often floods during heavy rain. She also asked about compensation for residents living next to the new flyover. Councillor Keith Melton shared his mixed feelings about the economic benefits versus flooding risks.
Last winter, Newark and the Trent Valley faced severe flooding due to storms. If approved, construction on the bypass could start next year and finish by 2030.
National Highways also announced plans to clear vegetation along the A46 in Newark starting in February. This work will focus on the section from Brownhills Roundabout to Cattle Market Roundabout and won’t affect traffic.
Similar vegetation clearing is planned for Halliwell Close, Alexander Avenue, and Robert Dukeson Avenue later in 2025 and 2026.