The £297 million contract for the UK’s Newark bypass project has been cancelled. The A46 Newark bypass was to have been built by Skanska for National Highways.
The 6.6km bypass project was given the go ahead in October 2025. The project was to have upgraded the existing A46 around Newark in the East Midlands between the Farndon and Winthorpe roundabouts. This stretch of the road features a single lane in either direction and carries around 17,000 vehicles/day. Both congestion at peak periods and safety are concerns for the existing road section. The road provides an important transport link between the Humber ports and the East Midlands, so the cancellation will have a knock-on effect for the transport sector.
The upgrade work was intended to widen the route to dual carriageway status with two lanes in either direction. The project would also have included a new flyover at the Cattle Market roundabout allowing the A46 to pass over the junction, a new bridge over the A1, an upgrade to the roundabout at Winthorpe and new traffic lights.
