Liberal Democrat councillors have asked the secretary of state for transport to step in to resolve the continued delays and rising costs around the A46 Stoneleigh junction.

Dubbed the 'bridge to nowhere', Warwickshire County Council's (WCC) major infrastructure project was due to be completed in the summer of 2022, but no end date is currently in sight.

Originally planned to cost £38 million, it was revealed last year the scheme was £4.7 million over budget, before a former cabinet member let it slip some £16 million had been ring-fenced for the project.

A cabinet report in June revealed £10 million has been spent on the project in the last year alone - some £3 million more than expected.

Current forecasts predict the project will be completed for £57 million. 

But with the new designs yet to be released and the county council remaining tight-lipped on the project, Lib Dems at WCC have written to Heidi Alexander to ask her to intervene.

"In the past 18 months very little construction work has taken place at the junction after the bridge deck was installed in January 2023," said Liberal Democrat opposition group leader, Cllr Jerry Roodhouse. 

"As seen by the tens of thousands of vehicles that pass under the bridge every day, both of the wingwalls of the bridge remain unfinished. 

advertisement

"However, our detailed analysis of the county council's accounts for 2024/25 shows that the council attributed expenditure of a staggering £9.9 million on this bridge project in the last financial year. 

"This includes money spent on contractors, consultants and legal services."

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

Speaking at July's full council meeting, council leader, Cllr George Finch said new designs are "progressing well" and the council is on track for" securing National Highways approval" at the beginning of September.

But with the update only coming when pressed by Kenilworth councillors, Cllr Roodhouse has said more is needed from the local authority's leadership.

"Rather than prioritising an immediate statement to update local residents and visitors to Warwickshire about what is happening with this embarrassing mega-infrastructure project, the local Reform leadership says it will bring an update to council towards the end of next month," he said. 

"We fear yet more delay and yet more cost. The till continues to ring.

"To make matters even worse, the local MP has said nothing about his concern about what's going on at the 'Bridge To Nowhere'. 

advertisement

"So we've been left with no option but to write to the secretary of state to ask for her help to try to make progress at last. 

"Enough is enough."