Transport secretary reveals road infrastructure investment boost
The transport secretary has announced that Great Britain’s roads are set to receive a £170 million funding boost, at this week’s Conservative Party conference.
The Highways Agency will deliver 57 road improvements by March 2015, part of a £217 million programme to reduce congestion on Britain’s motorways and A-roads.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said,
“These £217 million road improvements prove the government’s determination to accelerate growth and cut congestion. Keeping traffic moving is vital to securing prosperity. By removing bottlenecks and improving access to local enterprise zones, key international trading ports and communities, these road schemes will help get people to and from work, and power the economy.”
The new larger plans include an £11 million scheme to widen junction4 of the M5 near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire and a £4.9 million scheme to widen approach roads and slip roads and create a left turn lane on junction 5 of the M27 near Eastleigh.
In addition, McLoughlin also revealed a £7.7 million scheme to widen the A14 in Cambridgeshire between junctions 31 and 32 and install three sign gantries across the carriageway.
The transport secretary also revealed detailed plans for 10 improvements in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, seven in the South West, eight in the South East, six in the North West, 20 in the Midlands and six in the East.
A significant level of improvement will be granted to the M1 on junctions 33, 40, 41 and 44. In addition, the M5 will also receive a number of improvements to its slip roads in Exeter, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
These schemes form part of the government’s growth initiative, in which the Chancellor pledged £170 million of extra transport funding in the Autumn Statement last year.
Last year’s announcement included the Kingskerwell bypass in Devon and the Lincoln Eastern bypass. The Lincoln Eastern bypass received £50 million of government funding and work is expected to begin in December, while construction for the Kingskerwell bypass has begun and is set to be completed in December 2015.
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