A MULTI-MILLION plan to improve traffic flow on the outskirts of Coventry has taken a significant step forward – at no cost to taxpayers.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is set to invest £6,411,400 – all funded by a developer – into major upgrades to the B4113 Pickard’s Way/Wilsons Lane and the Longford Road Roundabout.
The scheme will enhance road safety and accommodate increased traffic from a nearby residential and commercial development.
The proposed works, undertaken through a Section 278 agreement with the developer, include a new signalised ‘left in left out’ (LILO) junction on the B4113 Pickard’s Way and an emergency access on Wilsons Lane.
The project will also improve the Longford Road Roundabout with the addition of a third gyratory lane and a new toucan crossing.
Safety for pedestrians and cyclists will be boosted with the widening and extension of the shared cycleway and footway along Wilsons Lane.
The council says the highway improvements are crucial for enabling a new 73-home development which was granted planning permission by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in 2022.
The developer is set to cover the full cost of the works, including any potential changes or overruns, ensuring no financial impact on the council or local taxpayers.
WCC will procuring contracts and agreements to begin the works, and is collaborating with Coventry City Council to oversee the parts of the project that cross into its boundary.
WCC leader Coun George Finch said: “We are delighted to take this important step forward to improve junctions in Exhall. These developer-funded schemes are a great example of how we can secure significant investment to upgrade our local infrastructure.
“The scheme will not only provide the necessary capacity for the new development but will also deliver essential safety enhancements for all road users, including new crossings and improved cycleways.”
