TOLLBAR Island could be set to reopen to motorists next week – ending years of tailbacks and frustration on one the city’s busiest junction.
Highways England has announced the multi-million pound A45 underpass is expected to be partially open to drivers as early as next week.
The works, undertaken as part of the A45/A46 improvement scheme, began in 2013 and are now nearing completion.
The existing A45 has been widened and an underpass created to take traffic from Stonebridge Highway straight onto the Coventry Eastern Bypass in the hope of increasing capacity and improving journey times.
The latest news follows the opening of both the east and west bridges at the junction earlier this year.
Announcing the reopening of the junction alongside a number of other highways developments in the region at a two-day Highways UK event at the NEC in Birmingham, chief executive of Highways England Jim O’Sullivan said: “We are currently delivering more than £15 billion of investment in over 100 major schemes across England that will enhance, renew and improve the network and it’s fantastic to see key projects like these in the Midlands making real progress.
“The Midlands is at the heart of England’s strategic road network and investment in schemes like these benefits the whole country.
“This region really is the ‘Midlands Engine’ which drives the country.”
It is hoped the £106 million improvements to the junction will increase capacity and improve journey times. s
However, work still needs to be carried out before the junction is completed.
New traffic signals will be installed at the junction of Rowley Road and Siskin Drive, as well as where Siskin Drive enters Tollbar Roundabout.
There will also be signals where B4110 London Road enters the roundabout and the right turn facility from Rowley Road into Siskin Drive will also be reinstated once these traffic signals are in operation.
The A45 Stonebridge Highway, Eastbound will also be closed from 8pm on Friday, November 25 until 6am the following morning.
The improvements to Tollbar Island are expected to be completed early next year.
