Melton Mowbray's Pork Pie Way bypass to open fully to traffic on Monday
It’s been talked about since the 1960s and Melton Mowbray residents will finally get their bypass on Monday when it is fully opened to traffic.
Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood MP, was one of many dignitaries at a launch event this afternoon (Thursday, when it was announced that the new road will officially be called ‘Pork Pie Way’ following a public vote.
It has taken three years to build the route, originally known as the North East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (NEMMDR) – it will be opened up in stages from Sunday with the full bypass opening up on Monday.
There has been opposition to using ‘Pork Pie Way’ from animal rights charity, Peta, with the debate being amplified in national media and ITV show This Morning, but 65 per cent of nearly 4,000 people voted for it in the public vote.
But Mr Lightwood said it was ‘a name that embraces the history and heritage of the town’.
He added: "It’s a proud moment that puts Melton Mowbray firmly on the map, while creating a road that will support new jobs, homes, and opportunities for years to come.”
Councillor Ronan Browne, leader of Melton Borough Council, said: “This is a defining moment for Melton Mowbray.
"The new road and its name reflect both our heritage, our character and our ambition, giving the town the infrastructure it needs to grow while celebrating what makes Melton Mowbray distinctive and special.”
It represents the largest road construction project Leicestershire County Council has ever been in involved in.
County council leader, Dan Harrison, commented: “It is an absolute honour to mark what is a once-in-a-generation moment for our county.
"This scheme stands on decades of work and has been delivered through some of the most challenging years any major project could face.
“From the Covid‑19 pandemic and global supply chain disruption, to severe flooding and international instability, reaching this point is a huge credit to everyone involved in building the road and I want to congratulate all those who have worked hard to make this a reality.
He added: “Thank you to local people for their patience and understanding along the way. Today marks the completion of a road that will transform how this area functions and grows for future generations.”
The preferred route was approved eight years ago this month but the Covid pandemic, soaring construction prices and poor weather contributed to the delayed opening and a final scheme which has come in at twice the initial estimated cost.
The road is 7.1km – or 4.5 miles – and it is a single carriageway with cycle lanes along its length, with six new roundabouts constructed for it. Contractors, Galliford Try, overcame several logistical issues including having to re-route the River Eye and build a new bridge over the railway line.
It runs from the A606 Nottingham Road near St Bartholomew’s Way, around the eastern edge of Melton Mowbray and back to the A606 near Burton Lazars.
Nearly 4.000 people cast a vote for the name of the road, choosing from nine shortlisted options.
In line with standard highways safety procedures, the road will open to traffic in a phased way over the coming days, allowing final checks and adjustments to be completed before it becomes fully operational.