Drivers across the UK will benefit from major investments to
improve vital road structures,
alongside committing cash to finally deliver a new
Thames Crossing, working with the private sector.
Across Great Britain, approximately 3,000 bridges are currently
unable to support the heaviest vehicles, restricting access for
agricultural and freight transport in regions, and slowing down
journeys.
And nationally, the number of bridge collapses has also risen - a
stark reminder of the need for urgent action to turn the tide on
the decade of neglect.
The Structures Fund will inject cash into repairing run down
bridges, decaying flyovers and worn out tunnels across Britain,
and ensure other transport infrastructure is both more resilient
to extreme weather events and to the demands of modern transport
- making everyday journeys safer, smoother and more dependable.
The Government is also pledging a further £590 million to take
forward the Lower Thames Crossing, the most significant road
building project in a generation and a national priority - ending
the painfully slow approach seen before.
The new crossing will cut frustrating congestion at Dartford,
better linking up motorists and businesses in the Midlands and
North with key ports in the South East, and spreading growth
throughout the regions as outlined in the Plan for
Change. The Government will look to bring in private finance
and expertise to support this major project.
These investments come as part of the new 10 Year Infrastructure
Strategy, which will be published later this week, and sets out
clear, achievable and robust vision for projects over the next
decade of renewal.
This also comes swiftly after a record £15.6bn was announced at
the Spending Review to enable local leaders to build long awaited
projects like the Tyne and Wear Metro extension and the West
Yorkshire Metro, and more investment to fund the TransPennine
Route Upgrade and deliver East-West Rail.
The Government is also delivering direct funding to support
growth across the UK – with funding for five new rail stations in
South Wales, and financial backing for carbon capture storage in
Aberdeenshire.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, , said:
“When it comes to investing in Britain's renewal, we're
going all in by going up against the painful disruption of closed
bridges, crossings and flyovers, and ensure they're fit to serve
working people for decades to come.
“Today's investment also goes even further and faster to spread
growth by providing critical funding to take forward the Lower
Thames Crossing – not just boosting connectivity in the South
East, but ensuring a smoother, less congested passage of vital
goods from Europe to our regions.
“This is a turning point for our national infrastructure, and
we're backing it with funding to support thousands of jobs and
connect communities, delivering on our Plan for Change.”
Transport Secretary, , said:
“We're finally getting on with the Lower Thames Crossing — a
crucial project to drive economic growth, that has been stuck in
planning limbo for far too long.
"This project is essential for improving the resilience of a key
freight route and is critical to our long term trade with Europe.
It will speed up the movement of goods from South East England to
the Midlands and the North, crucial to thousands of jobs and
businesses.
"Our structures fund will make long-overdue investments to repair
ageing structures across the country, speeding up journeys,
restoring pride and delivering our Plan for Change to boost the
economy and support regional growth."
Capital investment today will not only address these immediate
risks over the next five years, but create skilled jobs in
construction, engineering and maintenance, support vital
regeneration in local areas by improving connectivity, and boost
local economies by improving access to jobs, education and
services.
We will set out more detail about how funding will be allocated
shortly. This funding is additional to the funding local
authorities will receive for highways maintenance, which will be
set out in due course.
