Project to bulldoze A50 gridlock roundabouts finally gets green light

A major project to bulldoze two A50 roundabouts[1] that cause gridlock every day has finally been given the green light - more than a decade after it was first mooted. The move to take out the McDonald's and Derby Road roundabouts, in Uttoxeter[2], will be delivered as part of major roads upgrades announced by Rishi Sunak yesterday, October 4.

It will be one of the projects funded by the £38 billion saved from scrapping the northern leg of HS2, which had been set to provide a high-speed rail line linking Birmingham to Manchester. It is understood the Uttoxeter roundabouts will be replaced by flyovers, with a new bypass separating traffic in the town from the dual carriageway.

Burton and Uttoxeter MP Kate Kniveton has been lobbying for the work - designed by transport infrastructure group Midlands Connect - since making its delivery a key election pledge before she took up office in 2019. She said: "When I was first elected, I committed as one of my top priorities to secure this investment for the A50.

"As project champion for the North Midlands Manufacturing Corridor, I have worked closely with neighbouring MPs, our councils and Midlands Connect to make the case for these infrastructure upgrades to the A50. What the prime minister has announced will mean the improvements we have been calling for, with the significant benefits to our region will be delivered.

"Congestion in and around Uttoxeter will be eased and road safety will be improved. This is a long-term decision for a brighter future, and I could not be more pleased about this announcement."

Also now in the pipeline is work to increase the capacity of the Sudbury and Blythe Bridge islands either side of the Uttoxeter stretch, as well as work to ease congestion on the A500 in Stoke-on-Trent. But despite funding now being secured to deliver its plan, Midlands Connect has lamented the loss of HS2's second phase.

Chairman Sir John Peace said: "We are disappointed and disheartened by the HS2 announcement. We must not start from scratch, we must work at pace to deliver HS2 Phase 1 all the way to Euston. There are also lessons to be learnt from the HS2 story so far.

"The Midlands Rail Hub and road programmes including the A5 which have been announced today resonate with us, these are our transformational east-west priorities for the region, which we recommended and have been progressing with Government.

"We are now calling for more detail on timescales and plan of action, and asking for a high-level urgent meeting with ministers, to ensure these plans and the benefits for the Midlands are delivered as quickly as possible. We will now work, like we always do, cross-party and in an open and collaborative way with all involved."

It was 2013 when the move to flatten the McDonald's and Derby Road roundabouts and replace them with flyovers were axed when it became apparent businesses would be crippled and people would lose their homes. Among the businesses accessible off the roundabouts are the Derby Road services - including Burger King and Starbucks - and McDonald's.

It is not yet clear how the new proposals would affect access to those sites. The A50 is a key route to a host of major factories, including several JCB manufacturing hubs.

Also announced yesterday was the rebuilding of the Ivanhoe line taking passengers from Burton to Leicester. New stations will be built along the route in South Derbyshire.

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References

  1. ^ A50 roundabouts (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
  2. ^ in Uttoxeter (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
  3. ^ Rishi Sunak announces new train line linking Burton and South Derbyshire to major city (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
  4. ^ Biker killed in Burton after crash with lorry (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
  5. ^ Sign up for free email alerts to StaffordshireLive straight to your inbox here (data.reachplc.com)

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