Counties across England can today (6 April 2017) bid for a share
of £490 million to improve their roads.
The funding, which will be for schemes from 2018 to 2020, is
designed to tackle congestion and provide upgrades to local roads
to improve journey times.
Bids are encouraged for a wide variety of schemes which will cut
congestion, including by making use of technology and by opening
up the data held by local councils.
The pot of money is from the National Productivity Investment
Fund, which is providing £1.3 billion to enhance transport links
to boost growth.
Transport Minister said:
We are investing record amounts on our roads – spending more
than £23 billion on providing better journeys for motorists.
We are also committing a further £1.3 billion up to 2020 to cut
congestion and provide important upgrades to ensure our roads
are fit for the future.
This money will allow councils to go even further to improve
their roads and will be targeted at areas which need it most,
providing a significant boost to the UK’s economy.
The first tranche of money to councils, £185 million, is already
making a difference – in the north this includes improving roads
in Blackpool, better access to the M65 near Blackburn, improving
the A483 and A55 for the expansion of Chester Business Park.
In the south-west, it’s supporting infrastructure for growth and
is likely to include a critical link in Bridgwater supporting
construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station and housing
development in south Bridgwater.
Highways England is also spending £220 million on congestion
relief schemes at identified traffic hotspots. This is providing
£90 million for pinch point projects in the north, £23 million
for the Midlands, £53 million for the south-east, £32 million for
the south-west and £16 million for the east.
The competition will run until June 30 and councils will be
provided with details of how to bid.
