Welcome boost for UK roads

BRITAIN’s road builders received a welcome boost last month when Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced a £7 billion package of improvements to keep traffic moving on some of the country’s most congested roads.

"The package, which aims to make better use of existing roads and create new capacity along particularly busy stretches, includes a major programme of motorway and trunk road widening schemes, the largest of which is a £1.7 billon investment to upgrade the remaining three-lane sections of the M25 to four lanes."

"The programme also includes plans to widen the M1 to four lanes in both directions between the M25 and Milton Keynes, as well as capacity improvements to the M1, M18, M62 and A1/A1(M) in South and West Yorkshire."

Mr Darling said: ‘This new investment in our major transport corridors will deliver real improvements for people and businesses across the country. The improvements are essential to tackling congestion on major routes –– particularly the widening of the M25 and M1. They will add vital capacity to the strategic road network and support economic growth.’

All the schemes given the green light in this latest announcement are based on recommendations made in 11 multi-modal studies of strategic routes. This represents half of the Government’s programme of 22 studies to develop strategies for key parts of the transport network. So far 19 studies have reported and Ministers have already announced their responses to eight.

"Of the £7 billion package announced by Mr Darling in July, some £4 billion is allocated 10 Year Plan money and £3 billion will come from resources in years thereafter."