Delays to the A46 Stoneleigh Junction bridge improvement scheme, known as the 'Bridge to Nowhere', have been described as "ridiculous" by a councillor, as costs have soared to £58 million and the project remains five years behind schedule.
The scheme, near Kenilworth and Coventry, was discussed at a West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Investment Board meeting this week, where it was listed as one of several 'red-rated' projects facing time extensions and escalating costs. The bridge has been disconnected since 2023, and the project's original completion date of summer 2022 has been pushed back to September 2027.
Costs and delays
Originally budgeted at £38 million, the project's costs have risen to an estimated £58 million. WMCA allocated £6.6 million towards the work as part of a 'cocktail' of funding for the scheme. According to a report presented to the Investment Board, a 'change request' has been submitted to extend the project's completion date to September 2027.
The reasons cited for the construction delays include 'challenges sourcing suitable embankment materials and a contractual dispute with the main contractor'.
'Ongoing traffic issues'
Coventry councillor Lynnette Kelly expressed frustration at the delays, saying: "The delays to the A46 Stoneleigh Junction are concerning. That project has been going on for such a long time."
She added: "I don't know what pressure we can put on Warwickshire County Council to resolve the dispute with the contractor but that junction is different every time I go through it. It involves, if you go from Coventry to join the A46 southbound, a very difficult right turn where it's difficult to see the oncoming traffic. It needs to be finished. It is ridiculous we are waiting such a long time. It is causing ongoing traffic issues on other parts of the network. I think we need to have some mechanism to encourage a conclusion."
'Significant step forward'
Earlier this month, Warwickshire County Council reported that progress continues, with a major milestone being reached: the completion of the first four major support walls for the new bridge. Councillor Stephen Shaw, Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, said: "Residents rightly want to see progress on this project, and that's exactly what is happening on site."
He continued: "The completion of these first four major support walls marks a significant step forward and shows the new bridge continuing to take shape. As a key part of the wider A46 Stoneleigh Junction improvement scheme, this achievement paves the way for the next phase of construction, which is already under way. While the project has faced challenges, our focus remains firmly on delivery. These latest developments demonstrate tangible progress on site and bring us closer to delivering the improvements that residents, businesses and road users have been waiting for."
The project's completion date is now set for September 2027, with the contractual dispute and material sourcing challenges continuing to be addressed.
