Melton Mowbray’s £131m bypass named Pork Pie Way after public landslide
The £131 million Melton Mowbray bypass has been officially named Pork Pie Way after winning 65% of a public vote. The four-mile route, set to open in phases by Monday, cuts through the town’s historic centre, easing gridlock and marking a landmark for Leicestershire’s infrastructure.
A £131 million bypass slashing through Melton Mowbray’s choked streets has been christened Pork Pie Way, capping a bitterly contested public vote where the winning name crushed competitors by a 65% landslide.
The four-mile bypass, woven around the town’s north and east edges, will begin phased openings by Monday, with full traffic access expected within weeks. Leicestershire County Council confirmed the name at a Thursday ceremony attended by Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood, who hailed the project as a transformative investment for the region.
Key Points
- ✅ **£131 million** bypass set to open in phases by Monday
- ⚡ **65%** of 3,975 public votes chose Pork Pie Way over nine rivals
- 💡 **4.4-mile** route designed to slash HGV congestion and pollution in Melton town centre
Council leader Dan Harrison dismissed criticism from PETA, which pushed for Vegan Pie Way, calling its plea “pie in the sky thinking.” PETA Vice-President Dawn Carr countered by vowing to stage a vegan pie giveaway, arguing all animals deserve peace, not consumption.
Local leaders framed the road as both practical and symbolic. Melton Borough Council leader Ronan Browne called it “a defining moment” that “celebrates what makes Melton Mowbray distinctive,” while Harrison framed the project as a once-in-a-generation achievement despite pandemic delays, supply chain shocks, and record flooding.
| Name | Votes | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Pork Pie Way | 65% | Honours Melton Mowbray’s iconic pork pie heritage |
| Wolds Way | 7% | Rural landscape linkage |
| Lazars Way | 6% | Medieval Knights of St Lazarus reference |
| Farrier Way | 6% | Links to military animal training regiment |
| River Eye Road | 4% | Named after the river bisecting the town |
The bypass, originally budgeted at £63.5 million, ballooned to £131 million—nearly double—funded jointly by the council, central government, and future developers expected to build 4,500 homes in the area.
📋 By the Numbers
- 4.4 miles — Length of new bypass
- £131 million — Final cost, nearly double initial estimate
- 3,975 votes — Total cast in public naming contest
- 4,500 homes — Planned future housing tied to road funding
Engineered by Galliford Try, the route will peel heavy traffic away from the town centre, slashing journey times and cutting tailpipe emissions. Sections have already been stress-tested by thousands of vehicles during trial runs, with council officials confirming no weak points ahead of Monday’s partial openings.
💡 Pro Tip
If you’re driving near Melton Mowbray from Monday, use Pork Pie Way as your north-east bypass—especially during morning and evening peaks—to dodge the worst of the town’s historical congestion.
Council documents still list a southern extension on long-term plans, though no timeline has been set. Funding would come from housing developer contributions linked to new residential builds, leaving the project’s future phases dependent on market demand.
- Phase 1 — Partial openings begin Monday, focusing on northern and eastern segments
- Phase 2 — Full traffic access expected within weeks, pending final safety certifications
- Phase 3 — Southern extension remains unfunded; no start date confirmed
A giant two-tier pork pie baked to scale greeted dignitaries at the naming ceremony, a playful nod to the town’s gastronomic legacy. Lightwood praised the project as proof that infrastructure and heritage could align, while Browne emphasised the road’s role in unlocking future growth.
- 📊 The bypass is projected to cut town-centre traffic volumes by up to 40% during peak hours
- 🔍 Melton Mowbray’s pork pie industry contributes £12 million annually to the local economy
- ⚠️ Southern extension hinges on developer funding; timeline remains uncertain