CLLR SAM SMITH DEMANDS URGENT ACTION ON A46 NEWARK BYPASS AS MAJOR CONTRACT COLLAPSES

Leader of the Opposition at Nottinghamshire County Council, and County Councillor for Newark East, Cllr Sam Smith, has written to National Highways Director demanding the immediate appointment of a new contractor and the urgent start of works on the long-awaited A46 Newark Bypass improvement scheme.

The call comes after Skanska’s £297 million contract for the project was cancelled by National Highways, throwing the future of the scheme into doubt.

In the letter, Cllr Smith said: “Residents across Newark and commuters throughout Nottinghamshire have had enough of waiting. This stretch of the A46 has been a notorious bottleneck for years, causing daily congestion, unreliable journey times, increased accident risk and unnecessary frustration for thousands of motorists.”

The scheme will widen approximately 6.5 kilometres of single carriageway to dual carriageway between the Farndon and Winthorpe roundabouts. It includes a new flyover at the Cattle Market roundabout and a new bridge over the A1. The project received Development Consent Order approval and was funded by the previous Conservative Government through the Road Investment Strategy.

Cllr Smith highlighted the widespread impact of delays: “Communities including Farndon, Winthorpe, Kelham, Averham, Balderton, Fernwood and, in particular, Collingham are regularly disrupted by congestion. Residents of Collingham frequently find themselves effectively cut off during peak periods. The knock-on effects extend across the A17, the A1133 and the wider local road network.”

He added: “This is a serious problem, not just an inconvenience. It is actively holding Newark and the wider county back. The continued delay is damaging economic growth, discouraging investment and restricting job creation.”

Cllr Smith stressed the county-wide effects: “The impact is also felt much further afield. Motorists travelling from Bassetlaw and communities across northern Nottinghamshire continue to face unnecessary delays on one of the county’s most strategically important routes. This is a Nottinghamshire-wide issue, not simply a Newark issue.”

“The people of Newark have waited long enough. Commuters across Nottinghamshire have waited long enough. They deserve action, not further uncertainty.”

In the letter, Cllr Smith demands that National Highways:

• Appoint a replacement contractor at the earliest possible opportunity.
• Provide an updated schedule for when works will begin.
• Set out steps to minimise further delays.
• Confirm contingency plans to keep the scheme on track.

He has requested a full response setting out how National Highways plans to move the project forward so he can update local residents and businesses.