Work on major road junction delayed by months

Work started at the end of March and is set to continue into early 2026

Work on one of the biggest junctions in a county has been delayed, a council said.

Contractors began improvements on the Queen Eleanor Interchange in Northampton in March and the work was expected to be finished by the end of 2025.

West Northamptonshire Council said the project would now be completed by spring 2026 because of "new risks" and additional work needed to extend the subway.

Richard Butler, a Reform UK councillor and cabinet member for highways and transport at the authority, said the "frustrating" update was "essential" to ensure the improvements were carried out properly and safely.

The work includes carriageway widening, new traffic signs, drainage and resurfacing

The Queen Eleanor Interchange is about 450m (0.3 miles) from one of three remaining stone crosses erected by King Edward I in memory of his wife Eleanor of Castile.

The interchange links the A45 trunk road with the A508 London Road into the town centre, the Newport Pagnell Road and Hardingstone Lane.

The Reform UK-led council said the improvements were needed to "increase capacity, improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at this key junction".

"New risks have been identified which require additional work to extend the subway, which is a key element of the project," the council said.

It said "previously uncharted utility services and unexpected areas of hard sandstone bedrock" had also been discovered.

Butler said: "While we appreciate this extension may be frustrating for road users, it's essential that we take the time to deliver these improvements properly and safely.

"The challenges uncovered during construction are not uncommon in projects of this scale, and we're working hard to resolve them efficiently.

"Once complete, this scheme will bring lasting benefits to the local road network, improving safety and reducing congestion for years to come."

What is the new work schedule?

• Lane closures on the north bridge, Newport Pagnell Road, London Road, and Mere Way will continue until December 2025

• Lane closure on Mere Way (toward London Road) will remain in place through the Christmas shutdown until work resumes in January 2026

• Planned night closures from 20:00 - 06:00 GMT on 24 November to 7 December 2025: East side (Hardingstone Lane/Newport Pagnell Road)

• Planned night closures from 20:00 - 06:00 GMT on 8 December to 19 December 2025: West side (Mere Way/London Road)

Diversion routes will be clearly signposted, with advance warning signs on the National Highways A45 trunk road, the council added.