The Government has approved a £112M scheme to replace the Walsgrave roundabout on the A46 with a grade-separated junction, a move officials say is intended to ease congestion on a key Midlands trade route.

Lord Hendy, acting for the secretary of state for transport, signed a development consent order (DCO) for the project on behalf of the Department for Transport, clearing the way for construction to begin this autumn. The work, which National Highways has said should finish and open to traffic in 2028, will be carried out by contractor Octavius Infrastructure.

The Walsgrave junction currently links the A46 to the B4082 via a three‑arm priority roundabout. The approved design removes that at‑grade roundabout and creates a grade‑separated junction north of the existing site, allowing a free‑flowing A46 carriageway while maintaining local access to the B4082.

National Highways describes the A46 as a strategic east–west link across the Midlands that connects Coventry and Warwickshire to the wider motorway network and to ports such as those on the Humber. The Walsgrave upgrade is the second part of the Coventry Junctions programme: upgrades to Binley junction, the first scheme, was completed in 2022.

Traffic authorities say congestion on the A46 has contributed to slower journey times and increased queuing, particularly since other improvements such as the Tollbar End junction works and the M6 smart motorway have changed traffic patterns and placed added pressure on local junctions. Walsgrave is the last at‑grade roundabout east of Coventry and north of Tollbar End and is regarded by planners as a local pinch point.

National Highways and Coventry City Council have argued the project will improve journey reliability, increase capacity between the M6 and M40, and support local and strategic traffic needs. They also suggest better road links can expand access to employment, help firms draw on larger labour pools and make areas more attractive to businesses.

Because the scheme is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project under the Planning Act 2008, it required a DCO rather than a conventional planning permission. With the DCO granted, there is now a six‑week period during which interested parties may lodge an intention to seek a legal challenge to the decision.

Opponents of major road projects typically raise concerns about increased traffic, environmental impacts and the long‑term role of road building in regional transport strategy; National Highways has cited the need to relieve existing congestion and support economic growth as the rationale for the works.

National Highways project manager Emma Winter said: “Motorways and major A roads play a key role in keeping the UK economy moving, carrying a third of all traffic and two thirds of freight. The A46 is a major trade corridor between the South West, the Midlands and the North, which is why we need to remove this bottleneck on the outskirts of Coventry.

“The new-look Walsgrave junction will reduce delays by delivering much-needed additional capacity, better connectivity and safer journeys for the 57,000 drivers using the road every day.”

Policy lead for RHA, which represents road hauliers, James Barwise, said: “We welcome the decision to give consent for the A46 Walsgrave Junction upgrade. The A46 is a vital strategic road for hauliers, coaches and vans, connecting businesses and ports either side of the country.

“Schemes such as this and the emerging A46 Newark Bypass are critical to ensuring that this route supports the frictionless movement of goods and unlocks economic growth for businesses across the Midlands.”

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