Potential upgrade A46 Stoneleigh Junction

[Jonathan B4027]

Interested to know how that dual carriageway would have continued west.

[Truvelo]

Interested to know how that dual carriageway would have continued west.

The full map is here. It would have provided a link to the university, something which I believe the current proposals are aiming to achieve.

[Alderpoint]

Planning permission granted.

And being signalised from the start. Really don't see why they need to add pedestrians crossings when there are never any pedestrians there.

[ais523]

Planning permission granted.

And being signalised from the start. Really don't see why they need to add pedestrians crossings when there are never any pedestrians there.

It's possible that the cause and effect are the other way round: building pedestrian crossings makes sense if you want to reduce the extent to which pedestrians feel like crossing the road would be unreasonable. Roads cutting physically areas off from each other is a problem that's generally considered important to mitigate in modern road/junction design, and making it easy for pedestrians to cross increases the chance that they'll be willing to try.

I've made a few tries at visiting nearby towns/villages on foot, and it's generally very difficult; often the most suitable road available is a strategic one, and walking along many strategic roads is almost impossible. (Often you can get a reasonable distance and then discover that the footpath stops, effectively being forced to turn back.) Having passable junctions is part of making that sort of journey possible.

[Alderpoint]

Planning permission granted.

And being signalised from the start. Really don't see why they need to add pedestrians crossings when there are never any pedestrians there.

It's possible that the cause and effect are the other way round: building pedestrian crossings makes sense if you want to reduce the extent to which pedestrians feel like crossing the road would be unreasonable. Roads cutting physically areas off from each other is a problem that's generally considered important to mitigate in modern road/junction design, and making it easy for pedestrians to cross increases the chance that they'll be willing to try.

Obviously you don't know this junction: it is in the middle of a semi-rural area where no-one ever walks, and where no-one would want to walk. It's just like those pointless and useless cycle paths that councils (used to?) paint on roads/pavements: enables them to claim they've "made provision" when such provision is a pointless waste of money.

[tom1977]

Planning permission granted.

And being signalised from the start. Really don't see why they need to add pedestrians crossings when there are never any pedestrians there.

It's possible that the cause and effect are the other way round: building pedestrian crossings makes sense if you want to reduce the extent to which pedestrians feel like crossing the road would be unreasonable. Roads cutting physically areas off from each other is a problem that's generally considered important to mitigate in modern road/junction design, and making it easy for pedestrians to cross increases the chance that they'll be willing to try.

Obviously you don't know this junction: it is in the middle of a semi-rural area where no-one ever walks, and where no-one would want to walk. It's just like those pointless and useless cycle paths that councils (used to?) paint on roads/pavements: enables them to claim they've "made provision" when such provision is a pointless waste of money.

It's a recognised NMU route along the Coventry Centenary Way

[Alderpoint]

It's a recognised NMU route along the Coventry Centenary Way

So it is However having traversed that junction about 10 times a week for the last 30 years and never having seen a pedestrian, I think the four Toucan crossings they are installing are not going to fail through over-use.

Full plan is here.

[Chris5156]

Planning permission granted.

And being signalised from the start. Really don't see why they need to add pedestrians crossings when there are never any pedestrians there.

The question for me is: if you’re going to signalise it to provide pedestrian crossings, why build a roundabout at all? Build an actual signalised junction instead.

[Bryn666]

Road safety auditor hat on...

WTF is a toucan doing at the end of a free-flow roundabout bypass? This is exactly where drivers will be accelerating, they certainly will not be anticipating a red signal.

Why is there a hatched area on the dual carriageway west of the new junction? If this is future proofing then protect it with a bolt down kerb as it will just be driven on. If it is not, then it should be a wider central reservation. The opposite carriageway has "verge for future widening", presumably in case a third lane is needed at the entry to the roundabout. Inconsistency = bad design. The same hatching is used on the roundabout itself which is blatantly future proofing but will just attract misuse.

Area for police speed enforcement vehicle. Who is it targeting as it seems pointless where it is located.

[Alderpoint]

Area for police speed enforcement vehicle. Who is it targeting as it seems pointless where it is located.

Currently the local camera van regularly parks on the existing bridge and points its camera onto the A46 (either way). I assume that this new area is to enable that still to be done, but they'll only be able to monitor southbound traffic from there.

There's also this photo mock-up.

[c2R]

Statutory Instrument published today: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019 ... tents/made

[Micro The Maniac]

Perhaps, once this is finished, they'll turn their hand to filling in the missing bit of the A444, between Binley and Whitley

[Chris Bertram]

Perhaps, once this is finished, they'll turn their hand to filling in the missing bit of the A444, between Binley and Whitley

Don't hold your breath.

[M4 Cardiff]

I think works will be starting in this bit soon, based on https://one.network/ information. Initially works will be restricted to Stoneleigh Road, but will obviously affect the A46 not long after. Looks like a 2 year build programme.

[Alderpoint]

I think works will be starting in this bit soon, based on https://one.network/ information. Initially works will be restricted to Stoneleigh Road, but will obviously affect the A46 not long after. Looks like a 2 year build programme.

They did all the hedge/wood clearance work over the winter. Quite obviuos when driving past where the new bridge and slips will be.

[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.

WCC have now announced the consultation for the Phase 2 part, now that phase 1 is underway

http://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/insights ... nsultation

[Alderpoint]

New northbound ON sliproad opened a week or so back. A bit wiggly, as need to go around a section of the new roundabout at the top.

[Alderpoint]

A46 Stoneleigh Junction Improvement Scheme: Site Progress Update - March 2022

[Alderpoint]

After what seems ages of little progress, the new bridge is planned to be moved into place this weekend. Northbound and Southboard carriageways will be closed to facilitate the move,with traffic being diverted up and over the junction in both ways, from 8pm tonight until sunday evening.

I can't decide whether to go up and watch, or keep as far away as possible.

[Alderpoint]

A46 Stoneleigh Junction Bridge Deck Move video.

Annoying overlay text though.