Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

The study of British and Irish roads - their construction, numbering, history, mapping, past and future official roads proposals and general roads musings.

There is a separate forum for Street Furniture (traffic lights, street lights, road signs etc).

Registered users get access to other forums including discussions about other forms of transport, driving, fantasy roads and wishlists, and roads quizzes.

Moderator: Site Management Team

User avatar
M4 Cardiff
Member
Posts: 2401
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 15:12
Location: Leamington Spa

Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by M4 Cardiff »

Warwickshire County Council have proposed to turn the existing traffic-light controlled diamond junction at Stoneleigh on the A46 with a two bridge roundabout. This is partly due to Warwick University traffic but also as a proposed traffic mitigation measure for HS2 works, which will take place nearby.

http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news ... -1-7678653

It is not yet on WCC's works forward planning pages
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/majorcon ... onprojects or
https://wccroadsafetyengineering.wordpress.com/
Driving thrombosis caused this accident......a clot behind the wheel.
ais523
Member
Posts: 1139
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 19:52
Location: Birmingham

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by ais523 »

I have a feeling that the A46 through the Midlands is going to turn into a motorway at some point (although probably not any time soon). Pretty much every time I look at it, there's a new plan to upgrade some section or other, and IIRC there have been plans for a motorway along its corridor for a while. (The only place I can see that might be hard to upgrade further is Festival Island going northbound, as that would require a freeflow right turn and there's nowhere obvious to put it. That said, the southbound flow through the junction, which is easier to upgrade, was upgraded recently, so you feel that it's at least being looked at.)
User avatar
Alderpoint
Member
Posts: 1682
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2015 14:25
Location: Leamington Spa

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by Alderpoint »

M4 Cardiff wrote:Warwickshire County Council have proposed to turn the existing traffic-light controlled diamond junction at Stoneleigh on the A46 with a two bridge roundabout.
There are no traffic lights there at the moment, it's just give way at the top of each sliproad.

A much quicker and cheaper solution would be to install pseudo-mini-roundabouts at each end, like here, but Warwickshire seem to prefer expansive grand "final solution" schemes rather than cheap interim solutions which can deliver incremental benefits more immediately.
Let it snow.
User avatar
rhyds
Member
Posts: 13720
Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 15:51
Location: Beautiful North Wales

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by rhyds »

Its interesting that Stoneleigh's getting an upgrade now, when the nearby Stoneleigh Park showground seems to be winding down when it comes to large events.
Built for comfort, not speed.
User avatar
Alderpoint
Member
Posts: 1682
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2015 14:25
Location: Leamington Spa

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by Alderpoint »

rhyds wrote:Its interesting that Stoneleigh's getting an upgrade now, when the nearby Stoneleigh Park showground seems to be winding down when it comes to large events.
Almost every morning traffic queues on the northbound exit slip back onto the main carriageway. All this traffic is turning left at the junction and heading for Warwick University. There are no queues out of term time.
Let it snow.
User avatar
jackal
Member
Posts: 7544
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 23:33
Location: M6

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by jackal »

Alderpoint wrote:
M4 Cardiff wrote:Warwickshire County Council have proposed to turn the existing traffic-light controlled diamond junction at Stoneleigh on the A46 with a two bridge roundabout.
There are no traffic lights there at the moment, it's just give way at the top of each sliproad.
This is considered a non-standard arrangement nowadays. IIRC DMRB allows unsignalized diamonds for lower volume sites but the slips would have to be offset, so they are effectively a series of T-junctions rather than two crossroads. In practice a dumbbell is usually better.
Alderpoint wrote:A much quicker and cheaper solution would be to install pseudo-mini-roundabouts at each end, like here, but Warwickshire seem to prefer expansive grand "final solution" schemes rather than cheap interim solutions which can deliver incremental benefits more immediately.
Alderpoint wrote:Almost every morning traffic queues on the northbound exit slip back onto the main carriageway. All this traffic is turning left at the junction and heading for Warwick University. There are no queues out of term time.
Perhaps the best solution would be the 'pseudo-mini-roundabouts' plus a filter for that left turn, with a hundred metres or so of widening to the next roundabout along.
User avatar
M4 Cardiff
Member
Posts: 2401
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 15:12
Location: Leamington Spa

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by M4 Cardiff »

It looks like the works are to be phased, Phase 1 is the installation of the roundabout and modification of the adjacent junction, with Phase 2 being improved access to the University combined with a developer road from Stoneleigh to Westwood Heath and Phase 3 being the same to the west to Solihull.

Although presented in an unusual manner, the way I read it, if completed it would effectively be a replacement for the A452 and be a northern bypass for Kenilworth and also bypass Balsall Common. I guess that presenting it this way (minimising what it actually is) is some kind of NIMBY reduction measure.

In some ways I'd rather that WCC likes to propose grand schemes (even if they end up getting watered-down) than some piecemeal chip-as-chips semi-attempt that never really sorts it out.
Driving thrombosis caused this accident......a clot behind the wheel.
M19
Member
Posts: 2249
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2001 05:00
Location: Rothwell, Northants

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by M19 »

A46: The Fosse Expressway. Except it would be better to route it down to the M50 (tying in with a decent all connections free flow interchange. New link parallel to the M1 to rid that horrible multiplex. Rid the roundabout at the A6 and a proper bypass of Newark please, with a proper free flow, all connectors junction with the A1 please. That's not too much to ask.
M19
User avatar
Alderpoint
Member
Posts: 1682
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2015 14:25
Location: Leamington Spa

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by Alderpoint »

M4 Cardiff wrote:Although presented in an unusual manner, the way I read it, if completed it would effectively be a replacement for the A452 and be a northern bypass for Kenilworth and also bypass Balsall Common.
Wow. That would be one hell of a change. Not quite sure how you come to your conclusion, but with HS2 ploughing through the middle of it all as well the nimbys will be on overtime. That said, what you suggest makes some sort of sense, although my understanding of Balsall Common bypass proposals were that they directed traffic to the A46 at Warwick, rather than at Stoneleigh.
Let it snow.
AtoB
Member
Posts: 94
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 17:35

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by AtoB »

M4 Cardiff wrote:Wow. That would be one hell of a change. Not quite sure how you come to your conclusion, but with HS2 ploughing through the middle of it all as well the nimbys will be on overtime. That said, what you suggest makes some sort of sense, although my understanding of Balsall Common bypass proposals were that they directed traffic to the A46 at Warwick, rather than at Stoneleigh.
This new proposal, whatever it is, could take advantage of the old redundant Kenilworth / Berkswell railway line, which terminates to the north of Kenilworth, not far from the present A46 Stoneleigh junction . .
User avatar
Jonathan B4027
Member
Posts: 2238
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2002 21:45
Location: Oxford or Birmingham

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by Jonathan B4027 »

It will have a hard job, HS2 will be on top of that. I'm trying to visualise this plan but not doing a very good job, would it link up with Hallmeadow road which has some ridiculous speed bumps on?
Casino Manager: "It was a good night. Nothing Unusual."
Harold Shand: "Nothing unusual," he says! Eric's been blown to smithereens, Colin's been carved up, and I've got a bomb in me casino, and you say nothing unusual ?"
User avatar
Alderpoint
Member
Posts: 1682
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2015 14:25
Location: Leamington Spa

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by Alderpoint »

More info in today's CT.

Suggests long term it would link up with the A45 or A452.
Let it snow.
User avatar
M4 Cardiff
Member
Posts: 2401
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 15:12
Location: Leamington Spa

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by M4 Cardiff »

The Phase 1 works - improvement at A46 junction, have been approved by WCC.
https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/c ... ks-to-a46/
https://apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/api/do ... CCC-930-26
http://www.westwoodbusinesspark.co.uk/P ... nw301.aspx

other than the third link above which gives some detail of the new roundabout, I have not seen any drawings or even outline routes for the remainder of the project, but it certainly looks like the 'wishlist' is effectively a replacement of the A452.

edit, found this
http://www.stoneleighvillage.org.uk/wp- ... /IMG12.pdf
Driving thrombosis caused this accident......a clot behind the wheel.
TheKeymeister
Member
Posts: 546
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 00:51
Location: B1189, Lincolnshire

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by TheKeymeister »

I recall seeing some proposals to upgrade the existing diamond junction with traffic lights, additional lanes, etc a couple of years back, possibly related to the Warwickshire Gateway project which promised to bring a raft of improvements with it. This proposal is, of course, many times better! Let's hope it happens.
AndrewW
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2017 15:55

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by AndrewW »

In view of the comment about mini roundabouts, I thought you might like to see this:

"The County Council is aware of the current operational issues at the A46/C32 Stoneleigh junction which are causing significant congestion problems in both the morning and evening peak periods. Whilst these conditions have got progressively worse in recent years due to growth at Warwick University and Stoneleigh Park, the recent removal of traffic signals at Kenilworth Road/Stoneleigh Road/Gibbet Hill Road and replacement with a roundabout has exacerbated these problems by removing the platooning effect which the signals provided. This served to break up the flow of traffic using Stoneleigh Road, particularly in the evening peak.

Given the pressures which this junction experiences now and with the predicted increases in traffic which will occur due to planned development in the area, the County Council (in conjunction with Coventry City Council and Highways England) is in the process of developing a major improvement of the A46/C32 Stoneleigh junction. The preferred option would see a second bridge over the A46 constructed to the north of the junction, which would then allow the creation of a large roundabout and associated reconfiguration of Stoneleigh Road/Dalehouse Lane. Such a junction would also be consistent with Highways England's proposals for the A46 (between the M6/M69 and M40) to become a designated 'Expressway'.

The significant scale of the proposed improvement and the nature of funding for major transport infrastructure mean that the delivery of this scheme is still unfortunately a number of years away. HS2 Ltd has published proposals in their most recent Additional Provisions to the Hybrid Bill for the current junction to be signalised in order to cope with HS2 construction related traffic in this area from 2017. Whilst this may assist the operation of the junction, the County Council is petitioning to bring forward the major improvement scheme described above, as we feel it would provide greater capacity, resilience, flexibility and safety for operations.

The installation of mini-roundabouts at the two entrances/exits to the A46 has been considered in the past. Given that changes to the junction are due to take place in the near future as part of HS2, there is no intention (or indeed funding) for the County Council to make any changes in the interim."
User avatar
Alderpoint
Member
Posts: 1682
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2015 14:25
Location: Leamington Spa

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by Alderpoint »

AndrewW wrote: The installation of mini-roundabouts at the two entrances/exits to the A46 has been considered in the past. Given that changes to the junction are due to take place in the near future as part of HS2, there is no intention (or indeed funding) for the County Council to make any changes in the interim."
WCC always use the "near future" excuse not to introduce cheap short-term improvements - they prefer to wait for the long-term solution to materialise (or not!) and make the locals suffer in the meanwhile.

Example, A455(Emscote Road)/Greville Road junction just west of Portobello Bridge between Leamington and Warwick: when we first moved nearby, there were suggestions to put a mini-roundabout in (basically just some paintwork) which would greatly ease the traffic flow in all directions, but no, the council wanted a full traffic-light controlled junction (with pedestrian provision) with a widened/restored Portobello Bridge (listed), all done at the same time. 20 years later nothing has happened....
Let it snow.
AndrewW
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2017 15:55

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by AndrewW »

See developer's plans at:

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... 3913,d.d24

It contains a plan of the proposed road junction.
User avatar
Alderpoint
Member
Posts: 1682
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2015 14:25
Location: Leamington Spa

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by Alderpoint »

There is now an official Warwickshire CC site for this at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/a46linkroad
Let it snow.
User avatar
wrinkly
Member
Posts: 8986
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:17
Location: Leeds

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by wrinkly »

Side roads order made and submitted to DfT for confirmation:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3072524
User avatar
Truvelo
Member
Posts: 17467
Joined: Wed May 29, 2002 21:10
Location: Staffordshire
Contact:

Re: Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

Post by Truvelo »

These plans are only 50 years too late as the original proposal for that junction was a two bridge roundabout.
Attachments
a46.jpg
How would you like your grade separations, Sir?
Big and complex.
Post Reply