IMPROVEMENTS to the A5 near Rugby have been backed in Parliament by Rugby’s MP.
Mark Pawsey used a debate in Parliament’s Westminster Hall to urge the Government to invest in the Midlands stretch of the A5, part of which forms the boundary of the Rugby constituency and marks the border between Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire – forming part of the ‘golden triangle’ for logistics in the centre of England.
In his speech to fellow MPs, Mr Pawsey said that turning a 53-mile stretch of the road – from Junction 18 of the M1 to Junction 12 of the M6 – into a dual carriageway would improve the running of the road and help support anticipated growth in the region.
Drawing on the work of Midlands Connect and the A5 Transport Partnership, he said the A5 carried 23,000 vehicles a day at present on its busiest section – and that growth in traffic usage and importance had not been matched by funding to improve its capacity and resilience.
His calls to improve the road have been echoed by MPs from across the region including South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa and Marcus Jones of Nuneaton.
Speaking after the debate, Mr Pawsey said: “The A5 is a vital road for our local economy here in Rugby and is a major route for logistics. It also functions as an alternative route when the M6 is closed, either due to planned works or unplanned incidents. This combination of regional growth and added pressure has left parts of the A5 significantly congested as it lacks resilience, hence the need for additional investment.”
He said fully converting the section of the A5 into dual carriageway would enable traffic to flow more smoothly, help to unlock the economic potential of the area, and make the road safer by reducing congestion.
He added: “I was pleased that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport recognised the importance of the A5 to the Midlands and the need to improve connectivity in the region through the road investment strategy. I hope that the forthcoming third phase of this funding will deliver the upgrades which the A5 needs and make our roads safer and more efficient.”
