Pork Pie Way revealed as name for new distributor road as opening date confirmed

The new £131m Melton Mowbray Distributor Road reached a major milestone today (14th May) as its name was unveiled and the scheme officially marked complete at a preview event attended by Roads Minister Simon Lightwood MP. 

The road will officially be open on Monday morning following years of work by the County Council and contractors to deliver the scheme.

Chosen by local residents in a decisive public vote, Leicestershire County Council’s road will be known as Pork Pie Way. The bold and distinctive name celebrates Melton Mowbray’s world-famous food heritage and its identity as the Rural Capital of Food.  

Nearly 4,000 people took part in the poll, with the winning name receiving overwhelming public backing, making the reveal a proud and memorable moment for the town. The winning name received 65% of the vote making it a clear favourite.

Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood MP, said: “I was absolutely delighted to be in Melton Mowbray today to mark the opening of Pork Pie Way – a name that embraces the history and heritage of the town – which has been backed by nearly £50 million in government investment. 

Final checks and adjustments are being completed before it becomes fully operational on Monday morning. Photo: NEMM

“It’s a proud moment that puts Melton Mowbray firmly on the map, while creating a road that will support new jobs, homes, and opportunities for years to come.” 

Councillor Dan Harrison, Leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: “It is an absolute honour to mark what is a once-in-a-generation moment for our county. This scheme stands on decades of work and has been delivered through some of the most challenging years any major project could face. 

The 4.5‑mile road runs from the A606 Nottingham Road near St Bartholomew’s Way, around the eastern edge of Melton Mowbray and back to the A606 near Burton Lazars. It has been designed to remove through traffic from the town centre, cut congestion, improve journey reliability and support long-term housing and economic growth. The scheme has been delivered on behalf of Leicestershire County Council by contractor Galliford Try. 

Rutland & Syston MP Edward Argar and former Rutland & Melton MP Alicia Kearns. Photo: NEMM

The name was revealed at a special event today (Thursday) with an invited audience, including councillors, MPs, local businesses and community figures who have been closely involved in the project. The occasion was marked with the ceremonial cutting of a pork pie symbolising the scale of the achievement and the town’s unique character. 

The project has been so long its making it's had at least three MPs look over the project in its time. Two were in attendance today with current Syston & Melton MP Edward Argar saying he wants to press forward to secure funding for a Southern section.

He told NEMM: "I want to press forward with securing funding for the Southern section to complete the job. We saw potential funding pre-election that was taken away when the Government changed. County Hall have been clear they don't have the money to be able to do another project of this scale for the Southern leg so we've got to look at other options."

Leader of Leicestershire County Council Dan Harrison. Photo: NEMM

He added: ""Part of that may well come from the development that in the local plan is scheduled for the Southern part of Melton and whether we can do that with developer contributions but i'll also be continuing to press the Government, particularly the Minster who has seen for himself today this fantastic road, and trying to persuade him to put more money our way to complete this job."

Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood MP. Photo: NEMM

Councillor Ronan Browne, Leader of Melton Borough Council, said: “This is a defining moment for Melton Mowbray. The new road and its name reflect both our heritage, our character and our ambition, giving the town the infrastructure it needs to grow while celebrating what makes Melton Mowbray distinctive and special. On behalf of Melton Mowbray, I would like to thank all those involved in making this historic moment a reality.” 

Pork Pie Way was confirmed as winning the public vote. Pictured are representatives from Melton Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council and Government. Photo: NEMM

In line with standard highways safety procedures, the road will open to traffic in a phased way over the coming days, allowing final checks and adjustments to be completed before it becomes fully operational. 

The scheme has achieved an ‘outstanding’ rating from the Considerate Constructors Scheme, with three gold awards recognising the high standards achieved across safety, environmental care and consideration for local communities. 

More to follow on this story.