Government unveils £345m roads and transport boost

The government has announced a £345.3m funding package to improve local roads and public transport across the country.

Seventy-six projects have been awarded funding totalling £244m that will see improved access to public transport sites, the opening of more roads for cyclists and supporting the development of new housing.

An additional £101.3m will pay for two 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 will cover a range of projects, including the delivery of contactless payment options across Nottingham’s bus and tram network; creating a new route for buses in Plymouth for direct access to Derriford hospital; and improvement on the A66 in Darlington to help unlock 2,600 houses and 4,300 jobs by improving travel connections.

Government funding of £54.5m for a major road improvement scheme in Worcester will complete a series of upgrades to the Southern Relief Road in the city, including a new carriageway alongside the existing Carrington Bridge.

This will aim to reduce congestion for local residents and commuters, as well as boosting jobs and economic growth by improving access to the M5 and accelerate the building of more than 5,000 homes.

A further £46.8m funding in Middlewich, Cheshire to pay for the Eastern Bypass scheme that will cut congestion for residents and open up more land for employment, potentially creating up to 2,000 extra jobs in the area.