Reader TTS

New data has warned of increased safety risks at a Leicestershire junction, unless improvements are made. According to research by Midlands Connect, the A5 Gibbet Hill junction is projected

to see an additional 47,600 trips a week by 2035, due to the "economic success" of the area. If no improvement is made as traffic increases on the junction near Lutterworth, the

data claims highway performance at the A5/A426 junction is "likely to be significantly reduced". Increased safety risks, poor reliability, and longer journey times are all

potential consequences, Midlands Connect warned. An increase in queues and delays at the Gibbet Hill junction are also likely to have knock-on effects to the M1 and M6, harming local and

national connectivity, they said. The new data also showed that increased use of the junction by heavy goods vehicles will deteriorate the A5's ability to operate as a diversion route.

READ MORE:Leicestershire school set for 210 extra students as extension plan approved The data showed that by 2035, there would be potential to unlock 1,125 additional jobs and 2,050

additional homes in the area. This is the forecasted growth from the area which would seek to use the junction. If this growth is fully realised, Midlands Connect predicts that an extra

6,800 vehicles a day would seek to use this junction on the A5. This would help to support the growth of key industries in the area and the logistics sector, but they have warned that unless

action to improve the junction is undertaken, it will not cope. The sub-national Transport Body for the Midlands also highlighted that without intervention, additional congestion at the

junction is likely to result in a drop in air quality in the area. Midlands Connect's road programme lead, Swati Mittal said: "The A5 at Gibbet Hill [...] is one of Midlands

Connect’s priority road schemes, and this new data is more compelling evidence for the upgrades needed to make the junction fit for the future." Chair of the A5 executive officer group

for the A5 Partnership, Bill Cullen, said: "The A5 growth corridor forms the backbone of economic growth in the Midlands and urgently needs investment in schemes like this to ensure our

roads and infrastructure keep pace with the significant inward investment taking place along the corridor. This is one of a number of key priority schemes identified by the A5 Partnership

and Midlands Connect for investment between the M1 and M42." WE ARE NOW BRINGING YOU THE LATEST UPDATES ON WHATSAPP FIRST