HS2 operatives "cautiously confident" A46 will reopen on time after record-breaking works
The A46 near Kenilworth is on track to reopen on Thursday, 1 May, following a 19-day closure to allow for major engineering works during the construction of HS2.
The busy link between Coventry and Kenilworth has been closed since 11 April to enable the building work.
Once reopened, the A46 will operate under temporary traffic restrictions, consisting of a 50mph speed limit, along with single-lane closures on either side of the new structure.
Cameron Thompson, Head of Programme Delivery, said: "The traffic restrictions are to support the safe working on either side of the structure for HS2 operatives, and they will operate until July."
He added: "We are planning to reopen the road on Thursday, 1 May, but if we can, we'll open earlier, but I can't make any promises yet.
"There's still a lot of work needed to ensure a safe reopening, but I'm cautiously confident that we will open up as planned."
The A46 box is one of over 200 major structures being delivered by HS2 across the UK, aiming to improve journey times between London, the West Midlands and the North, while freeing up capacity for local services on existing rail lines.
Work included the recent record-breaking slide of a 14,500-tonne concrete box structure into position beneath the A46 Kenilworth Bypass, the third and heaviest box slide accomplished in the project.
The structure, the heaviest of its kind ever installed in the UK, will carry high-speed trains between London and Birmingham under the dual carriageway.
National Highways Regional Director, Victoria Lazenby, praised the efficiency of the project and said: "Thank you to everybody in the local area and road users for your patience as these essential works have been carried out.
"When the roads open, the A46 will operate as it did previously, but with a new structure underneath.
"What has been great about this project is that HS2 managed to complete it over a 19-day closure, rather than what we were anticipating could have been years of disruption.
"We've worked closely with HS2 to minimise the impact for road users and neighbours, and it's great to see it come to fruition."
During the 19-day operation, HS2 had 375 people working on site, completing a total of over 7,000 shifts across the construction period.
Thompson said: "I can't say this enough, but I just want to thank all the people who have sacrificed the time and put in all of this amazing effort.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the team on the ground and the team in the office that have kept us going through the 19 days, you've been nothing short of incredible."
For more information on HS2, visit here.
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