West Midlands drivers face a 50mph speed limit on the A46 near Coventry as National Highways begins early works for a £112.5 million upgrade of the Walsgrave junction. The project aims to reduce congestion for the 57,000 daily users of this major trade corridor.
Early Works Underway from July 13
Starting July 13, teams will install signage, clear vegetation, and build temporary site accesses by closing laybys on the A46 between Walsgrave junction and M6 junction 2. These overnight preparations precede the main construction phase beginning in September.
New Junction Design for Free-Flowing Traffic
The current three-arm priority roundabout connecting the A46 to the B4082 will be replaced with a free-flowing carriageway. This redesign increases capacity to meet future traffic growth, allowing smoother entry and exit onto local roads.
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 are removing this bottleneck on the outskirts of Coventry.”
Construction Timeline and Traffic Impact
Temporary 50mph speed restrictions will remain throughout the works. Drivers should expect overnight closures and signed diversion routes in the coming weeks. The main construction starts in September, with the scheme expected to open to traffic in 2028.
Winter added: “The new-look Walsgrave junction will reduce delays by delivering much-needed additional capacity, better connectivity and safer journeys for the drivers using the road every day. This scheme also forms part of our commitment to improve the A46 Trans-Midlands Trade Corridor, supporting economic growth, employment and housing development between the M5 and the Humber Ports.”
