News story: Government invests £350 million improving local roads

A £345.3 million funding package to improve local roads and public transport across the country has been announced today (19 October 2017) by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

76 projects from across the country have been awarded funding totalling £244 million to bring key benefits to local road users – such as improving access to public transport sites, opening up more roads for cyclists, addressing key local traffic ‘pinch points’ and supporting the development of new housing. An additional £101.3 million will pay for 2 new major roads in Middlewich, Cheshire, and Worcester in the Midlands.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

This government is taking the big decisions for Britain’s future and investing a record £23 billion on our roads to increase capacity and improve journeys.

These schemes will provide much needed upgrades to essential local roads up and down the country, cutting congestion, improving safety and shortening journey times for drivers.

They will also help boost regional economic growth by unlocking jobs and supporting vital new housing development.

The funding covers a huge range of projects, including:

• the delivery of contactless payment options across Nottingham’s bus and tram network
• creating a new link for buses in Plymouth providing direct access to Derriford hospital
• improvements on the A66 in Darlington which will help unlock 2,600 houses and 4,300 jobs by improving travel connections

A major road improvement scheme in Worcester with £54.5 million government funding will complete a series of upgrades to the Worcester Southern Relief Road, including a new carriageway alongside the existing Carrington Bridge. This will provide much needed congestion relief for local Worcester residents and commuters, as well as boosting jobs and economic growth in areas like Great Malvern by transforming access to the M5 and accelerate the building of more than 5,000 homes.

Another £46.8 million funding in Middlewich will pay for the Eastern Bypass scheme which will cut congestion for residents and open up more land for employment, potentially creating up to 2,000 extra jobs in the area.

Funding for all these schemes is being provided from the National Productivity Investment Fund and the Large Local Majors fund. This is part of the government’s record investment in road to help keep Britain moving and the economy growing.