Motorists and residents are getting prepared for two weekends of traffic chaos in south Warwickshire as the A46 closes for HS2 works.

The dual carriageway will be shut all the way from Coventry to Thickthorn from 8pm on Friday 7 February to 6am on Monday 10 February, then again from 8pm on Friday 14 February until 6am on Monday 17 February.

But the closure is just a precursor to a three-week closure for the road coming later this year which will allow the new 'box' bridge to be slid into place. This structure will allow the HS2 line to pass under the A46.

The dates for this longer closure are yet to be confirmed.

Over the next two weekends, HS2 will be completing preparations before the major works later on in 2025.

The new bridge is being built alongside the A46 and will be slid into place (image via HS2)

"To prepare, we will need to alter the VRS (vehicle restraint system), central reservations layout and complete some advance works on the cross-carriageway drainage," an HS2 statement said.

"To complete these works safely we will install temporary full weekend closures of the A46.

Following the weekend closures, a 50mph speed limit will stay in place in both directions.

A single lane will also be closed on the northbound carriageway and narrow lanes will be in place on the southbound carriageway.

These will be in place until early April 2025.

Diversions

Traffic lights will be in place on the Thickthorn roundabout, and St John's Roundabout in Kenilworth to try and reduce the impact of traffic over the two weekends.

Residents in Kenilworth are still likely to see disruption as more traffic is set to head through the town, despite HS2 calling on drivers to "follow signed diversions, do not rely on Sat Navs".

The diversion for local traffic is via the Bericote roundabout, along the A445 to Ryton-on-Dunsmore and then onto the A45 via the A423. But there are fears motorists will try to cut through Kenilworth to get to Coventry.

The diversion route for local traffic (image via HS2)

The official diversion in place for HGV's will take vehicles all the way around the edge of Coventry, onto the M6, M42 and then M40.

The official diversion route for the A46 closures this February (image via HS2)