Mayor welcomes £3.7bn roads funding to support three key East Midlands schemes

Drivers across the East Midlands could soon benefit from smoother, safer and more reliable journeys after the Government committed £3.7 billion over five years to improve the region’s roads.

The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has welcomed the funding package, which will support major upgrades including the A46 Newark bypass, A38 junctions in Derby, and key A52 junction improvements in Nottingham.

The investment forms part of the Government’s Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) and is aimed at resurfacing roads, tackling potholes, replacing worn motorway sections and delivering long-term improvements to the strategic road network.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:

This is a significant and welcome investment in the East Midlands and one that speaks directly to our ambition to build a stronger, more connected region.

For too long, communities and businesses have had to contend with infrastructure that simply hasn’t kept pace with demand: and it holds them back. Delivering these schemes will help to change that – delivering smoother journeys, improving safety, and ensuring people can get to work, education and opportunities more easily. It is part of growing the economy and giving people what they need to be prosperous.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority will work closely with the Department for Transport to ensure these investments are delivered in full, as soon as possible.

Key East Midlands schemes

Funding has been allocated for three major projects across the region:

• A46 Newark bypass – dualling the existing single carriageway between Farndon and Winthorpe roundabouts
• A38 Derby junctions – replacing roundabouts at Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton with grade-separated interchanges
• A52 Nottingham corridor – improving capacity and safety at several key junctions

The schemes were selected based on their value for money and long-term deliverability.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said:

For too long this country has failed to tackle and fix our crumbling infrastructure, but this £3.7bn investment will secure the future of our road network in the Midlands for years to come. 

Not only are we investing in renewing our roads, meaning smoother and faster journeys for drivers, we are getting on with investing into new projects and fixing potholes, which will deliver benefits across the region.

Newark, Derby and Nottingham set to benefit

The A46 Newark scheme has long been identified as a missing link in the region’s transport network. Midlands Connect has previously described Newark as the “missing piece of the puzzle” on the A46 corridor, with the upgrade expected to improve journey times, reliability and support economic growth in the town and surrounding area.

In Derby, improvements to the A38 are expected to ease congestion, support major employers such as Rolls-Royce and Toyota, and help unlock capacity for more than 43,000 new homes by 2040.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Derby City Council cabinet member for climate change, transport and sustainability, said:

As a city built on industry and innovation, we rely on a road network that is fit for the future. This very welcome investment is a major vote of confidence in our region and a vital boost for Derby’s economy.

By upgrading key junctions around Derby, this funding will make journeys safer, smoother and more predictable for drivers, whilst keeping our local economy moving.

Work in Nottingham will improve junctions along the A52, one of the city’s key arterial roads.

National Highways says the road “serves as a catalyst for economic growth, supporting businesses by providing essential connections to key routes such as the A1 and M1

In Nottingham, the A52 improvements are aimed at reducing congestion, improving journey times, encouraging healthier and more sustainable travel, and improving access to businesses and key destinations.

More schemes being considered

The Department for Transport has also confirmed that further projects could be explored for RIS4 or a future investment programme.

These include:

• Improvements to Junction 28 of the M1 at South Normanton
• Upgrades along the A50 corridor between Derby and Stoke-on-Trent

Alongside the major projects, the Government has also announced £8.4 billion to repair and renew England’s motorways and major A-roads before problems arise.