MASSIVE plans to tackle congestion on the road linking Leamington and the M40 are set to get underway next week.
The Warwickshire County Council-led project is set to cost around £37.6million and will see the entire length of the A452 Europa Way corridor between the motorway and the Leamington Shopping Park roundabout become a dual carriageway.
The entire project, which is set to take around six years to complete, has been developed alongside the Warwick District Local Plan which has allocated approximately 4,500 homes to be built along the Europa Way corridor by 2029. Some of these homes have already been built with others underway.
The project is also required to support the Stratford District Local Plan which has allocated 3,000 homes on land near Gaydon which will also increase traffic on Europa Way.
The project also includes plans for a 500 space park and ride near the M40, cycle route from Europa Way to Tachbrook Park Drive, and footpaths.
The first part of the project, scheduled to start on Monday, will see work carried out between Olympus Avenue and the Shires Retail Park roundabout. It will involve the construction of a new signalled junction providing access to the Myton Green development along with the widening of a 450 metre stretch of Europa Way. The work is expected to take about 13 months to complete.
A second part of the project south of the Gallows Hill roundabout will see the construction of a signalled junction and widening of a 400 metre stretch of Europa Way. Work is expected to start at the end of June.
Warwickshire County Council transport spokesman Coun Jeff Clarke said: “Improving transport infrastructure supports our communities and employment growth and is a key priority for us.
“The programme of improvements for Europa Way will help people get to the places they need to be and will benefit both residents and businesses in the area. It will reduce congestion and journey times and the sustainable travel improvements will give people a greater range of travel options.
“The construction works will inevitably create some travel disruption and so we ask motorists for patience while we complete this work to improve this important gateway to Warwick and Leamington.”
Warwick District Council development spokesman Alan Rhead stressed the importance for residents of the project.
Coun Rhead said:“These improvements will help to achieve the district’s housing requirements whilst tackling the congestion issues on Europa Way which have frustrated road users for many years.
“The Local Plan aims to provide around 13,000 new homes in the district by 2029 to support the growth and prosperity of our local economy, 5,000 of them will be affordable housing.
“This ambitious development around Europa Way will include, not only improvements to the transport infrastructure, but will also see funding for three new primary schools, a secondary school, new health and GP facilities, leisure facilities, new footpaths and cycle ways as well as a 62 hectare country park along the Tach Brook, supporting this new community.”
The work is expected to cause disruption. Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/activetravel for advice and information on alternative travel options.
