edwin_m
Veteran Member
It doesn't actually say that.National Highways are shortly expected to submit a DCO application to upgrade the A46 around the west of Newark and A1 junction.
Preferred Route announcement (linked below) does suggest that the scheme has been designed to accommodate any future Network Rail scheme to remove the flat crossing.
So they have made changes to the sewage works area, which I believe is close to the ECML, but there is no mention of any change near the Cattle Market junction where the existing road over the railway is to be dualled. This text doesn't rule out that they may be keeping the adding a new bridge, higher if necessary, for the new carriageway but keeping the existing one next to it. That's what happened with the A453 dualling near East Midlands Parkway, and the splitting of the carriageways on the map suggests that separate structures may be intended.We have worked with Network Rail and the Department for Transport to identify and understand any conflicts between the A46 Newark Bypass scheme and potential rail schemes, and to discuss opportunities for working together. As a result, we identified a location immediately to the east of the sewage works underpass where the schemes would be very close together. We have changed the layout of the eastbound off-slip to Brownhills roundabout to increase the space between the railway and the road so that a future rail scheme would not be prevented by our scheme. We will continue to work together as the design of both schemes is developed.
I suggest the gradient needed for the existing bridge could be marginal for a distance of 800m. Network Rail likes 1 in 100 or better, and the existing route is pretty flat so a short section with a severe gradient could compromise the maximum loading of freight trains (including some very long oil trains).