Leicester Western Bypass

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Constructed in the early 1990's, the Leicester Western Bypass refers to a section of the A46, between the M1 motorway and Syston. The name refers to the fact that it allows traffic to bypass the west of the city, although it actually runs from north west of the city to the north east. The bypass is eight miles long, opened in November 1995, and cost £36m. It was thought the bypass was done on the cheap, but it made a significant difference to avoiding Leicester's roundabouts, as well as suburban areas such as Anstey and Beaumont Leys - which previously were the main entrances into Leicester, subsequently lessening the number of traffic accidents in these areas. In particular, traffic from outside the city to the north and west, and further afield even from the north east can gain access to the M1 southbound without having to travel along the city's outer ring road.

The A46 around Leicester, England, leaves the M1 at J21a, which was newly built for the road.^[1]. There is only access onto the M1 Southbound, and off the M1 Northbound. Traffic going to, or coming from the north can use J22 of the M1, via the A50. The junctions progressing north east are:-

Kirby Muxloe and Glenfield South (with access to the A47 and Leicester Forest East).

A50 between Glenfield and Groby, with access to the M1 Northbound.

Anstey and Glenfield North. This is the exit for Beaumont Leys, and is signposted for the National Space Centre, although the A6 junction could equally be used.

A6 near Birstall. This is the exit for Leicester North, Loughborough and the Soar Valley.

The Leicester Western Bypass ends at the Hobby Horse Island, near Syston where it joins the old A46 Fosse Way going North, and the A607 (formerly A46) towards Leicester and Thurmaston.

At grid reference SK579104, between the Anstey and A6 junctions, the road passes over the preserved Great Central Railway.