A development consent order (DCO) has been approved for the A46 Walsgrave scheme, part of the wider A46 Coventry junctions upgrade.
The approval gives National Highways permission to start work on improving one of the UK’s major trade routes.
In 2023, contractor Octavius was appointed by National Highways to deliver the £112.5m Walsgrave junction project.
Construction is expected to start in autumn 2026, with the scheme opening to traffic in 2028.
Emma Winter, project manager at National Highways, said: “Motorways and major A-roads carry a third of all traffic and two-thirds of freight in the UK. The A46 is a vital trade route between the south west, the midlands, and the north. We need to remove this bottleneck on the outskirts of Coventry.
“The upgraded Walsgrave junction will reduce delays, provide extra capacity, improve connectivity, and make journeys safer for the 57,000 drivers who use this road every day.”
Supporting future growth
The Coventry junctions scheme involves the upgrade of two at-grade junctions – Walsgrave and Binley – to provide relief from traffic congestion and to improve journey times by increasing capacity on the A46 between the M6 and the M40.
The upgrade aims to meet traffic needs and support Coventry City Council’s future growth forecasts.
The scheme is categorised as a nationally significant infrastructure project under the Planning Act 2008, meaning it required an application for a DCO to obtain the equivalent of planning permission to move into the construction phase.
There is now a six-week period in which parties can lodge an intention to legally challenge the decision.
