Easter travel nightmare for Warwick students as HS2 works forces A46 to close again

Students moving back to Warwick after the spring break have had their travel nightmares confirmed after details of the A46 road closure were confirmed.

The road, which is a key route connecting campus to Leamington Spa and Coventry, will be closed from 8pm on Friday 11 April until 6am on Thursday 1 May.

Drivers will not be able to access the stretch of road from the Stivichall Interchange in Coventry to the Thickthorn Island junction for the A452 towards Leamington and Kenilworth for the duration of the closure.

There will also be a three-day contingency window in the case of any unforeseen events.

The 19-day closure will allow for contractors working on HS2 to demolish the carriageway, slide a new bridge into place, and rebuild a road on top of it

The 19-day closure will allow for contractors working on HS2 to demolish the carriageway, slide a new bridge into place, and rebuild a road on top of it. The new bridge will allow the new rail line to pass under the A46.

Lane closures in both directions and a speed restriction of 50mph will remain in place following the reopening of the road until 31 July.

The same stretch of the A46 was previously closed for two weekends in February to complete drainage works and to work under the existing carriageway.

Students told The Boar at the time about the impact the work would have on them, with one student branding his commute as “beyond frustrating”.

Bus services in and around campus, including Stagecoach’s U1 and U2 services, are set to be disrupted by the works

A statement from contractors Balfour Beatty VINCI states that the closure intends to “minimise the impact on residents as much as possible”. This is despite the closure clashing with the start of the summer term at Warwick, when many students will return to their term-time accommodation after the Easter break.

Students will also continue to face disruption after moving back into their accommodation, with bus services in and around campus, including Stagecoach’s U1 and U2 services, set to be disrupted by the works.

Both services will be diverted via Kenilworth during the closure period, and a revised timetable will also be put into place.

The U1 will also operate a reduced journey with most services set to run between Leamington Spa and the University, rather than onto Warwick Gates. A half-hourly shuttle bus from Leamington Spa to Warwick Gates will run for the duration of the works.

A fully signposted diversion will be in place during the closure, as well as “special access arrangements” for those living in the villages of Stoneleigh and Ashow.

The University has encouraged commuters to “plan ahead” and “leave more time for journeys” during the roadworks period, as students look set to face travel chaos once more heading into the final term.