Positive step forward for A511 scheme

The county council has been awarded almost £1.5 million in development funding for the A511 growth corridor scheme.

The announcement, which was made by the Department of Transport on Monday (30 September) means the county council can now prepare its outline business case for the scheme. 

Currently out to public consultation until the 23 October, the scheme will see improvements made to nine locations between the A42 Junction 13 at Ashby to the Field Head roundabout near junction 22 of the M1, including upgrading a section of Stephenson Way from a single to a dual carriageway. 

The proposals also include plans to connect the A511 to Bardon Link Road and create a new north-south link across Coalville.

To take part in the consultation visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/A511-consultation 

The award of this funding for our feasibility study is a positive step forward for our proposals.

This scheme is really important, as it will not only help us improve access to jobs and services in the area it will also help us meet our transport needs in the future.

Person:Blake Pain, cabinet member for environment and transport

The project is one of 11 priority schemes submitted to the government by Sub-national Transport Body Midlands Connect, as part of a £3.5 billion fund available for local road improvements from 2020-2025.

Simon Statham, Midlands Connect’s head of technical programmes, said: “The A511 Growth Corridor is a really ambitious proposal, and Leicestershire County Council has already provided compelling evidence that this scheme will help create new jobs and homes, improve access to East Midlands Airport and major employers like Amazon, and improve air quality by reducing congestion.

“This development funding moves the scheme one step closer to reality, and we will continue to work with the council and government to make sure it happens as soon as possible.”

 Public consultation exhibitions are being held on Friday 4 October 2019 at Markfield Community and Sports Centre, from 3pm to 8pm, and on Saturday 5 October at Coalville Library from 10am to 2pm.