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Autumn statement: huge boost for transport
Transport projects funded as part of the Autumn statement 2012.
The Chancellor announced funding for the following transport projects as part of the Autumn statement 2012.
Scheme: A1 Leeming to Barton improvements
Cost: £314 million
Description:
- upgrading the A1 between Leeming to Barton to motorway standard by upgrading a dual carriageway to a 3 lane road
- this will create a continuous motorway standard route from Leeds to Newcastle and London to Newcastle (via M1/A1M)
- it will also improve journey times between Leeming and Barton and over 60 years is predicted to save around 100 lives and prevent around 650 serious casualties as well as helping speed up the time it takes to clear up traffic incidents
- during construction it is estimated that at its peak up to 750 new jobs will be created in the construction industry over the 3 year construction period
- completion of the scheme will support the economic competitiveness of the north-east and improve access to regional employment areas
- the reduction in journey times of some 20% will directly benefit business users, improving the attractiveness of these areas for future development and growth
- works are planned to start in 2013/14 with the scheme open for traffic by 2016/17
Scheme: A5-M1 link (Dunstable northern bypass)
Cost: £126.6 million (Department for Transport (DfT) contribution)
Description:
- new dual 2 lane road between the A5 (western end) and the M1 (eastern end) north of Dunstable and Houghton Regis
- this will remove through traffic between Dunstable and the M1 speeding up longer distance north south trips
- the scheme will also unlock the development of 7,000 houses and 40 hectares of employment land – potentially providing 4000 jobs – at Houghton Regis.
- work will start in 2014/15 with the scheme open for traffic in 2015/16.
Scheme: A1 Lobley Hill improvement
Cost: £64 million
Description:
- new roads in both directions parallel to the existing A1 between Lobley Hill and A184 in Gateshead
- the scheme will provide an alternative route for local traffic improving congestion and accident rates on 1 of the most congested sections of the network
- the government made a commitment through the Newcastle ‘City Deal’ process to work with local partners on considering proposals to address congestion on the A1 Newcastle/Gateshead western bypass – including proposals to deliver the Lobley Hill improvements
- it also helps support local regeneration and development, including the creation of up to 22,000 new jobs, as the congestion is considered as a major constraint to expansion of regional employment and housing
- work is planned to start in 2014/15 with the scheme open for traffic by 2016
Scheme: Highways maintenance
Cost: £333 million
Description:
- a dedicated fund for essential maintenance to renew, repair and extend life of road network in England
- it will be used for improvements such as road resurfacing, maintenance to bridges, or repair damage caused by weather events, like recent floods
- the money will be split between Highways Agency and local authorities
- details of how each area will benefit from this additional investment will be announced shortly
Scheme: Strategic road pinch point fund
Cost: £100 million
Description:
- additional funding for the Highways Agency’s pinch point fund to improve congestion and safety at bottlenecks on the strategic road network and facilitate local economic growth
- it will be used for improvements such as road widening and junction improvements
- schemes delivered as part of this programme will facilitate the creation of jobs and housing, improve access to enterprise zones and transport gateways that are within the vicinity of the scheme
- the Highways Agency will now work on identifying the specific projects that will benefit and make an announcement shortly.
Scheme: Local pinch point fund
Cost: £170 million
Description:
- fund to remove bottlenecks and support development.
- schemes delivered as part of this programme will facilitate the creation of jobs and housing development, improve access to enterprise zones and transport gateways - this could include new access roads, junction improvements or bridge strengthening
- the fund is open to local transport authorities in England - guidance on how to apply for funding and timescales will be published shortly
- schemes considered will be ones that can be delivered quickly delivering an immediate impact on growth
Scheme: A30 Temple to Carblake
Cost: £60 million (£30 million DfT contribution and £30 million Cornwall Council contribution)
Description:
- a 2.6 mile dualling of the existing single carriageway section of the A30 between Temple and Higher Carblake including changes to existing junctions
- the scheme will relieve congestion and improve journey times - it will also attract business growth and inward investment to Cornwall by improving links the rest of England
- Cornwall Council is proposing to deliver and part-fund the scheme on behalf of the Secretary of State
- work will start in 2014/2015 (subject to the completion of planning processes and funding agreements between Cornwall Council) with the scheme open for traffic in 2016
Scheme: Accelerated national road projects
Cost: £95 million
Description:
- the acceleration of 3 major motorway upgrades for M3 J2 to 4a, Surrey, M6 J10a to 13, West Midlands and M1 J28 to 31, Derbyshire to deliver the improvement schemes by spring 2015
- this will result in increased capacity of 73 miles and reduced congestion through use of the hard shoulder as an extra lane
- vital improvements to the A160/A180 route to the port of Immingham will also be brought forward to start construction in the summer of 2015 (subject to the completion of statutory processes), with completion in autumn 2016 - cutting 18 months off the original construction timetable
Scheme: Development of future national road projects
Cost: £42 million
Description:
- continuing the development (detailed design, modelling and preparatory work) of future major road projects to maintain a pipeline of major road infrastructure proposals for delivery in the next spending review
- the development work will put in place the necessary preparatory work and analysis to ensure the Department for Transport can plan its future investments and ensure it is in a position to deliver vital future infrastructure
- the development funding provides a contribution to UK job creation as it will be delivered in part through the transport supply chain
- the department has previously identified a number of future national road proposals and will announce in due course which schemes will have their development work funded, following a process of prioritisation
Scheme: Cycling infrastructure improvements
Cost: £42 million
Description:
- this funding will support infrastructure improvements that make it easier and safer for people get around their local areas by bicycle
- this could include more cycle lanes or tracks, improvements to junctions and signals, and cycle parking
- local authorities will design solutions best for their areas while keeping a strong focus on economic growth and carbon reduction
Scheme: M25 junction 30 improvements
Cost: £150 million
Description:
- improved interface between M25 junction 30 and the A13 making the Thames Gateway more attractive to prospective developers, and improving access to the Lakeside shopping centre and the Port of Tilbury
- the Highways Agency will now work up detailed plans for the scheme but options being considered are widening of the A13 and increased capacity at the junction roundabout
- this will need to take account of the location of an additional crossing over the Lower Thames
The following scheme was also announced but will be funded from existing Highways Agency budgets.
Scheme: M40 J12 improvement
Cost: £10 million
Description:
- improving the layout at J12 of the M40 near Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) facility which includes their Research and Development Centre and the Aston Martin Lagonda site
- the scheme includes realignment of the slip roads and a local side road and the installation of traffic signals at the top of the slip roads -it will assist traffic using the M40 which includes over 6,000 vehicles travelling to and from the JLR site and improve safety at the junction by alleviating traffic queuing back onto the M40 at peak times
- the scheme supports local economic growth and will benefit the national economy by reducing localised congestion on this strategic route between the Midlands and the south-east - it will also improve safety
- the scheme is being funded from existing Highways Agency budgets
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Published 6 December 2012