Plans are being drawn up for the new bypass around the city of Hereford in the UK. Construction is expected to commence for the 8km bypass in late 2026 and the project has an estimated cost of $42 million.
The work is needed as north-south traffic on the A49 currently passes through the centre of the historic city, resulting in heavy congestion as well as posing safety concerns. Flooding can occur in the city during periods of heavy rainfall and this further exacerbates the problem of traffic delays on the existing A49 route. Campaigners have been pushing for the project for some years as Hereford suffers some of the worst traffic delays in the South West of the UK. However, there are detractors for the project saying that it is costly and that the local authorities have more pressing needs given budget limitations.
The planned alignment runs around the West of the city and building the new bypass link will be carried out in two phases. The first involves connecting the A465 to the A49, with planning permission for the 3.6km stretch secured and construction scheduled to begin in December 2026 and due for completion in 2028. The second phase will complete the route around the city.
Meanwhile, there is controversy for a new motorway junction, also in the UK’s South West. Completed in 2019, the junction lies on the M49 motorway that links the M4 and M5 motorways.
Complications over the ownership of the land surrounding the junction mean that the link to the industrial estate a short distance to the West was never completed. Similarly, road links to the East of the junction were never constructed.
Suggestions as to what to do with the junction include using it as a velodrome for cycle racing events at least until the link to the industrial estate can be completed.
