Work on Melton Mowbray’s £115M Distributor Road is entering its final phase, with the new route expected to open in spring 2026.

The North and East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (NEMMDR) is the largest highways project ever undertaken by Leicestershire County Council. Stretching 7.1km, the single carriageway road aims to alleviate long-standing traffic congestion in the town and support future growth.

Construction began in early 2023, initially focusing on access routes, site setup, vegetation clearance, and fencing.

Contractor Galliford Try commenced the main phase of building in May 2023 and has so far progressed according to schedule. The project includes six new roundabouts, four bridges, and crossings over the railway line and the River Eye, an environmentally sensitive Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The road will also feature 3m wide continuous cycling and walking paths.

Overview of North and East Melton Mowbray Distributor Road scheme

Main structures completed in February

In February, Galliford Try completed the installation of the project’s final major structure: a 47m railway bridge over the Birmingham to Peterborough line at Lag Lane.

The bridge lift, completed in nine hours, involved the careful positioning of two pairs of steel girders, each weighing around 150t. The operation utilised one of the largest cranes in the UK, the LR1700 crawler crane, notable for being the only crane of its kind in the country. The engineering feat demanded close collaboration between the client, Leicestershire County Council (LCC), Network Rail, design firm Aecom and contractors including Ainscough, Briton Fabricators, JOS Structures, and Collins Earthworks.

Work then turned to completion of the bridge deck in situ.

This railway bridge marked the fourth and final major structure on the NEMMDR, following the completion of two smaller 15m road bridges and a 54m crossing over the diverted River Eye last November.

Girder lifted into place for bridge over railway

Upcoming road closures to accelerate completion

Once complete, in spring 2026, the NEMMDR will link the A606 Nottingham Road on Melton’s north-western edge to the A606 Burton Road in the south, crossing several key local roads. It is expected to reduce congestion within the town centre, improve road safety, and encourage sustainable travel options.

To complete the remaining works, including the construction of the final two roundabouts and road resurfacing, several temporary road closures have been announced. These will take place during the quieter summer months to minimise disruption during busier periods.

Key closures include:

Motorists are advised to plan their journeys carefully and follow clearly signed diversion routes. Authorities note that road layouts will have changed once the closures end, requiring attention from drivers.

This new distributor road forms part of a broader strategy to support Melton Mowbray’s development, including housing and business expansion, which has been held back by traffic issues in recent years.

Leicestershire County Council leader Dan Harrison said: “Not only is Melton Mowbray a fantastic place to live, work and grow up, its food heritage is fast making it a key tourist destination in our county.

“This large-scale investment in Melton’s transport infrastructure will have a hugely positive impact and help support the town’s growth, now and into the future. It’s fantastic to see the project enter its final phase.

“We know that planned road closures this summer will mean some temporary travel disruption in and around the town and we’d like to thank everyone affected in advance for their patience.

“In the longer-term, the new road will help to ease congestion in Melton’s busy town centre, reduce congestion, improve access to housing, leisure and employment hubs and keep HGVs away from unsuitable rural routes.”

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