Urban and Civic confirm next section of Newark Southern Link Road, between Hawton Road and Bowbridge Road, could open this week

After months of delays, the next section of the Newark Southern Link Road is set to open this week.

A provisional date of this Friday (August 8), has been given for the opening of the new stretch of Middlebeck Way, which will link Bowbridge Lane to Hawton Road, south of Newark.

The opening of the road is subject to the final signing off of legal paperwork between the developers Urban and Civic and Nottinghamshire County Council.

This section of carriageway was scheduled to open at the start of spring 2025, but has faced delays due to finishing works and its use as an access road for construction traffic.

Once complete, the full Southern Link Road will connect the A1 at Fernwood with the A46 at Farndon, via a 5km stretch of new road.

An Urban and Civic spokesman said: "We’re pleased to confirm that the provisional opening date for the middle section of the Southern Link Road, between Bowbridge Lane and Hawton Road, is August 8.

“This is subject to final signing of relevant legal paperwork by the county council.

"Assuming that these are signed off as planned, the opening of this section of the road will be an important milestone in the Southern Link Road project and will benefit not only Newark, but the wider area too."

The last section of the road to open to the public was between the Welcome Break in Fernwood and Bowbridge Lane, in October of last year.

The third phase of the development — between Hawton and Farndon — is currently being carried out by Brehenny Engineering with a projected end date of autumn 2026.