A46 Newark Bypass Returns to Market at £700m
National Highways has relaunched procurement for the A46 Newark Bypass at £700m, more than double Skanska's cancelled £297m contract, as Government weighs axing the scheme.
- Section
- Construction
- Author
- By Elena Vasquez
- Filed
- Length
- 2 min read
Key takeaways
- National Highways reopened market engagement for the A46 Newark Bypass with a £700m estimated cost, replacing Skanska's cancelled £297m contract.
- The Government is consulting on potentially cancelling the scheme and the A38 Derby Junctions to fund defence spending through RIS3 savings; no final decision has been made.
- Contractors have until 13 October to register; a tender notice is scheduled for 15 July 2027, with an indicative contract running December 2028 to December 2038.
National Highways has put the A46 Newark Bypass back on the market with a £700m price tag — more than double the value of the contract it cancelled less than three months ago.
The state roads operator terminated Skanska's £297m deal for the 6.5km dualling scheme around Newark-on-Trent earlier this year. Skanska had won the job through the Regional Delivery Partnership framework in 2022 and carried the scheme through design and planning.
The new preliminary market engagement notice values the replacement design and build plan at £700m, with an indicative contract running from December 2028 to December 2038. National Highways cautions that the two figures are not directly comparable.
The Department for Transport said this summer that delays to the project meant the existing Skanska contract was no longer considered the best commercial route.
Political cloud over procurement
The scheme returns to market under gathering political uncertainty. The Government is consulting on potentially cancelling both the A46 Newark Bypass and the A38 Derby Junctions schemes as it seeks savings from the RIS3 roads programme to fund increased defence spending. No final decision has been taken.
That leaves National Highways pressing ahead with procurement preparation while ministers decide whether the road will ultimately be built.
Scheme details
Development consent for the bypass was secured in October 2025. Plans involve widening the existing A46 between Farndon and Winthorpe to dual carriageway, including a new bridge over the A1 and major junction works.
National Highways is inviting contractors to help shape a fresh commercial and procurement strategy ahead of a possible tender notice. Contractors have until 13 October to register for the market exercise.
A recorded procurement briefing follows on 20 October, with one-to-one supplier sessions from 26 October. An estimated tender notice is scheduled for 15 July 2027.
Whether that tender actually lands will depend on the outcome of the Government's spending review — a decision that will determine if the £700m scheme proceeds or joins the list of cancelled road projects.
Original: forms.cloud.microsoft
