£115 million road for Melton Mowbray in the UK

Construction work is underway for the £115 million North and East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (NEMMDR) in the UK. The new 7.1km road link will also feature facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in the Leicestershire town.

The project is intended to cut congestion in the town centre, as well as supporting growth in local employment and enabling local housing delivery. The new road will reduce the number of heavy vehicles passing through the town, boosting safety and cutting traffic emissions in the urban area. Construction commenced in early 2023 and should be complete in early 2026.

The project is being funded jointly by the UK Government, Leicestershire County Council, the Leicester & Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and developer contributions. The route runs around the town between the South East and the North West and features six roundabouts.

The NEMMDR route consists of single carriageway road and extends from the A606 Nottingham Road at the north-western edge of the town to the A606 Burton Road in the south, crossing Scalford Road, Melton Spinney Road, A607 Thorpe Road and B676 Saxby Road to Burton Road.

Environmental measures are included in the project. As part of the scheme, the builders will also be making improvements to the River Eye. This will see the river diverted back to its natural course and the old section also retained and used as a wildlife habitat area. The scheme also includes extensive planting, including grass, wildflowers and trees, together with various measures to protect birds, bats, badgers, newts and other wildlife.