New temporary link road opening as part of Catthorpe improvements

The one-lane, temporary link road gives drivers travelling from the M6 to the A14 eastbound direct access without travelling through the ‘dumbbell’ roundabouts – removing a historic bottleneck of congestion.

Ivan Marriott, Highways England project manager, said: “We’ve been working hard to put this temporary link road in place so that we can provide drivers with the benefits of a direct M6 to A14 eastbound connection as soon as possible, ahead of the permanent two-lane link road opening later this year.

“As this is a significant change in the way drivers use the junction, I’d like to urge drivers to observe signs, get in lane when instructed and drive carefully as they get used to the new layout.”

Lane priorities will change when the temporary link road opens, so that:

> lanes 1 and 2 of the M6 will join the M1 south

> lane 3 of the M6 will continue eastbound to join the A14

> On the same date, the slip road to access local roads will be closed and drivers on the M6 eastbound will be directed to junction 1 on the M6 to continue their journeys.

For safety reasons, speed restrictions of 50mph on the M6-A14 eastbound will continue while construction of the final improvements is under way.

An overnight closure of the A14 eastbound at Catthorpe Interchange and the M6 southbound from junction 1 will take place from 9pm on Friday February 12 to enable traffic to be switched onto the temporary link road at 8am on Saturday 13 February.

Diversions will be clearly signposted.

Drivers can keep up-to-date with closures and follow scheme progress on the scheme’s Facebook page.