Past meets present in ceremony to mark official opening of flyover in Coventry
It was a classic moment when the opening of the new £61m, A46 Binley flyover was celebrated at a VIP ceremony. A series of classic cars born in Coventry were driven across the new flyover which has been described as a 'game changer' for the people of Binley.
A series of classic cars born in Coventry today (3 February) revved into life to help mark the official opening of the A46 Binley flyover valued at over £61m.
The new 14,000-tonne flyover – hailed as a ‘real gamechanger’ for people in Binley - separates long distance and local traffic. It means drivers staying on the A46 will no longer need to slow down to use the roundabout, reducing congestion and making journeys safer.
The classic cars, supplied by a local volunteer car group, were driven across the new flyover as part of the ceremony and included a 1950 Humber Super Snipe; 1959 Daimler Ferret; 1966 Jaguar 420G and 1971 Triumph Herald convertible.
National Highways Project Manager, Bryan Bradley, said:
“We’re delighted to officially open the new Binley flyover today and it was wonderful to see the vintage cars making the trip across the structure.
“The A46 is a key part of the National Highways network, and we know how important it is locally to residents and those travelling to the East Midlands and beyond.
“This completion of the scheme marks part of a vital upgrade to the A46 and we’re pleased to see motorists enjoying smoother journeys through Binley by using the new flyover.
"Building the flyover and lifting it in place was a major piece of work and we’d like to thank the local community for their patience during the project.”
Roads Minister Richard Holden, who attended the ceremony, said:
“National Highways’ upgrade of this vital section on the A46 will help families, businesses and commuters across Coventry, Rugby and Warwickshire have safe and reliable journeys.
“This was an enormous piece of work and I extend my thanks to everyone who worked on it and to the local community for their ongoing patience.”
Octavius Infrastructure Chief Executive Officer, John Dowsett, said:
"It's great to see the flyover at Binley officially opened, separating long distance and local traffic, reducing congestion and pollution and making journeys safer for all.
“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in delivering the works and to thank the local community for their support and patience whilst we completed this important project.”
Caption: Roads Minister Richard Holden, National Highways Executive Director for Major Projects, Nicola Bell, (left) and Regional Delivery Director Anita Prashar with a 1973 Jaguar E-type Series 3
The opening of the new road has also been praised by Midlands Connect, Member of Parliament for Rugby Mark Pawsey and Binley Woods Parish Council.
The organisation carries out research, develops and progresses transport projects which will provide the biggest possible environmental, economic and social benefits for the Midlands and the rest of the UK.
Roads Programme Lead at Midlands Connect, Swati Mittal, said:
"The A46 is an economically significant corridor, one of the country’s most important trade routes.
"The junctions at Coventry including Binley and Walsgrave were major bottlenecks on this strategic road link between the East and West Midlands, connecting Coventry and Warwickshire to the motorway network, holding back logistics firms that rely on this road and major manufacturers located along the corridor, and also impacting the safety and quality of life of the local residents.
"We welcome the completion of Binley junction upgrade and are very hopeful for commencement of work at the Walsgrave junction soon. We are also continuing to make the case for more investment along this road in the future."
Member of Parliament for Rugby, Mark Pawsey, said:
“The opening of the new flyover at Binley will make a huge difference to the local community by alleviating congestion and it will also make journeys much smoother for motorists travelling along the A46.
“The A46 is a key component linking the East and West Midlands and it plays an enormous role in helping to connect people to places and products to customers.
“The new flyover is a real feat of engineering and I’d like to pass on my congratulations to those involved for designing and building something which will improve the journeys for tens of thousands of motorists each year.”
Chair of Binley Woods Parish Council, Paul Salisbury, said:
“The completion of the new flyover is a real game-changer for local people as it has alleviated an historic bottleneck.
“The movement of vehicles around the old junction was chaotic so it’s great to see the new layout, open to traffic and it means through traffic can now stay on the A46.
“We’re keen to see work progress at Walsgrave junction as this will make journeys even smoother for drivers using the A46.”
In June last year (2022), National Highways announced its preferred route for work at Walsgrave junction following feedback from the local community through a public consultation.
Surveys and assessments are now being carried out to develop the design of the preferred route further.
National Highways will hold another public consultation later this year to share the more detailed proposals and seek local views ahead of submitting our Development Consent Order.
This year marks 100 years since the road numbering scheme was introduced, classifying all roads in Great Britain. Today, A-roads make up over half of England's strategic road network - 4,500 miles of motorways and A-roads that connect the nations and regions of the United Kingdom.
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
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