£57 Million Relief Road Opens in Northampton After Years of Construction

Northampton has officially welcomed the opening of the North West Relief Road (NWRR), a £57.4 million project designed to improve traffic flow and support economic growth in the area. West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) formally opened the new route today (Wednesday, December 17).

The road connects the A428 Harlestone Road with the A5199 Welford Road near the Windhover pub and links to the Sandy Lane Relief Road, providing better access to the A4500. WNC described the route as “a much-needed link” over the railway line, forming a key part of the Local Transport Plan.

Reform councillor Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “Today’s opening of the NWRR is a major achievement which will benefit motorists and businesses across West Northants. Our partners worked closely with us to deliver this complex project on time and within budget, overcoming numerous challenges along the way.”

Although construction was completed in August 2025, the road remained closed until speed calming measures were installed in the village of Boughton, which were finished at the end of November. A council spokesman noted the project stayed on schedule despite challenges including inflation, Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, and exceptional flooding events in 2023 and 2024.

Key Features of the Project

• 1.5 km single carriageway, named Gorse Valley Way

• 400m of raised causeway across a floodplain

• New rail bridge in partnership with Network Rail

• New River Nene bridge with the Environment Agency

• Five culverts

• Two roundabouts with flood relief and storage

The scheme was funded through a mix of SEMLEP contributions, developer contributions, and council investment, with WNC taking a £20 million loan in 2021 to cover part of the costs. The northern section was built by Balfour Beatty, while developers Persimmon Homes and Barratt David Wilson completed the southern section as part of the Harlestone Grange development.

Benefits and Controversy

The council highlighted benefits including reduced congestion in north-west Northampton, improved access to the M1 and local business parks, and faster, more reliable journeys for motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport users.

However, some critics remain unconvinced. Former Conservative councillor Sam Rumens argued that the NWRR will not alleviate traffic in Kingsthorpe, calling it “merely an access road for housing” and advocating for a full orbital road system to support long-term growth.

Construction of the NWRR began in March 2022. Developers built the first phase from the A428 to a roundabout near Grange Farm. WNC then constructed the next section over the railway line, completed in July 2024. The final phase, running through part of Harlestone Firs, required the removal of 1,800 trees, with developers and the Althorp Estate replanting 8,000 trees and shrubs.

Adjacent to the NWRR, work continues on the 3,000-home Dallington Grange estate.

The project has also received industry recognition, winning the East Midlands Regional Award in the Integration and Collaborative Working category at the 2025 Civil Engineering Awards.