A5: New research ‘further evidence’ in need for upgrade

Average speeds at peak times drop by nearly a half in the morning rush hour between Hinckley and Tamworth, according to new research by transport body Midlands Connect.
Analysis shows the route drops 44% in average speeds in the morning peak, between 6 am and 10 am compared to off-peak journey times. The average speed on the route is 48mph hour, dropping to around 32mph during peak periods. In some locations, it can dip down as low as 10mph.
There were 180 road traffic incidents on this section of the A5 from 2017 to 2021, with 45 in 2019 and one in five of these (20%) resulting in “serious” injuries to one or more people.
The corridor is one of the Midlands’ most important east-west connections and is at the heart of the “Logistics Golden Triangle” bounded by the M1, M6 and M69. This is an area of the country from which drivers can reach 90% of the population within four hours, a very important location for logistics firms.
Integrated transport programme lead at Midlands Connect, Swati Mittal, said: “The A5 corridor is home to a million people, sitting at the heart of the so-called Logistics Golden Triangle and supporting major employment sites such as Magna Park and MIRA. Anything we can do to upgrade the route is vital for residents, commuters and businesses in the area.
“With improvements, Midlands Connect believes the route has the potential to provide an alternative route to our congested motorways and support significant housing and employment growth.”