A full plan to redesign and finish the 'bridge to nowhere' over the A46 will not be ready until at least September, the new leader of Warwickshire County Council has revealed.

Now three years behind schedule, the bridge at the Stoneleigh junction remains unconnected, with delays and rising costs hitting the project.

The council last released a public update on the scheme in November last year, with Kenilworth councillors Richard Dickson and Mark Stevens last week requesting updates on the project at the full council meeting.

"It is quite an embarrassment to where we are today," Cllr Stevens said. 

"Will the leader of the council please confirm when all members are to be fully briefed on the completion of the bridge to nowhere over the A46 in Kenilworth, incorporating insurances on a final fixed price cost to complete, guaranteed completion timescales, contractual supplier/contract terms that ensure the above commitments are delivered with financial penalties included for any further failure to deliver?"

In response, new leader Cllr Finch read an update on council officers which revealed the redesign works - announced last year - are still yet to be completed.

A finish date for the project is yet to be confirmed.

Cllr George Finch provided an update on the A46 Stoneleigh island at last week's full council meeting (image via WCC)

"The redesign of the works to complete are progressing well and is on track for securing National Highways approval at the beginning of September," he said. 

"In parallel, design is being costed by the contractor and the council's team are scrutinising the costs and the contractual terms. 

"The costing will also come with a programme to complete the works and again the council's team are scrutinising that programme to enable works to restart as soon as all matters are agreed and that completion can happen in the shortest time possible."

Originally expected to cost £38 million, it was revealed last year an extra £16 million had been earmarked for the project.

The local authority had already confirmed the project is £4.7 million over budget with the new junction initially expected to be finished in summer 2022.

WCC continues to negotiate a deal to finish the project and has blamed a supply issue with materials for the new embankments for some of the delays.

The bridge to nowhere was installed in January 2023.

The project will ultimately see a new roundabout built at the junction.