DfT identifies traffic hotspots to receive Budget cash

Traffic hotspots across England have been identified by transport secretary Chris Grayling to receive millions of pounds for junction upgrades, roundabout improvements and better traffic signalling.

The schemes, worth about £110 million, will cut congestion and journey times for motorists and improve safety. They will be completed by spring 2020.

This includes two larger projects, worth £30m, which will create an unbroken stretch of dual carriageway on the A69 between Hexham and Newcastle. A further £14m will go towards creating a new junction on the M11 to provide another route into Harlow, cutting journey times as well as unlocking housing developments.

There will also be an additional £110m which will be invested on improving more roads, with details revealed at a later date.

Grayling said: “We are making the most extensive improvements to roads in the last 40 years, investing a record £23 billion to keep our country moving and make journeys faster, better and more reliable for everyone.

“We are also spending a further £1.3bn over the course of this parliament to relieve congestion and provide important upgrades to ensure our roads are fit for the future.

“These schemes announced today will provide quick relief to millions of drivers and save them from getting stuck in traffic.”

Nick Harris, Highways England operations director, said: “This continued investment in our motorways and major roads is bringing real benefits to communities up and down the country, and we will continue working with our partners to improve journeys for everyone who uses our roads.”

The funding is broken down as follows:

£90m for the North

In the North West, Highways England has identified four schemes, worth £6.4m, to tackle congestion - two to improve the A595/A66 junctions at Great Clifton and the Fitz Roundabout, as well as the A585 at Norcross and junction 3 of the M55. These projects will all start by winter 2018 and be completed by spring 2019. A further £21m has been set aside to improve roads in the North West.

North West	Estimated cost £millions
A595 / A66 Fitz Roundabout (Low Rd)	1
A595 / A66 Great Clifton Widening	1.6
A585 Norcross Capacity Improvement	3
M55 Junction 3 Signals	0.8
Future small schemes	21
North West total	27.4

Yorkshire and the North East will benefit from the £30m A69 upgrades as well as £14.8m invested in enhancing seven congested junctions as well as a further £18.2m on other areas to be identified shortly.

Improving the A63 Garrison Road in Hull will save more than half a million hours of delays in the first year alone.

Yorkshire and North East	Estimated cost £millions
A69/A68 Junction Improvements near Corbridge	15
A69/A6079 Junction Improvements near Hexham	15
A63 Garrison Road Signals and Road Improvement	6.35
M18 Junction 3 Improvements	0.25
M62 Junction 27 Widening	2.65
M62 Junction 28 Widening	2.25
A66/B6280 Morton Palms Widening	0.5
A19/ A179 Sheraton Signals	0.8
M1 Junction 36 Slip Road Improvement	2
Future small schemes	18.2
Yorkshire and North East total	63

£23m for the Midlands

Four schemes, worth £9.9m, will cut congestion in the Midlands, reducing queues at Old Stratford and Ogley Hay on the A5, junction 3 of the M42 and junction 27 on the M1. Details of schemes benefitting from an additional £14m will be announced in due course.

Midlands	Estimated cost £millions
A5 Old Stratford Widening	3.3
M1 Junction 27 Capacity Improvements	0.9
A5/A5195 Ogley Hay Traffic Signals	1.5
M42 Junction 3 Improvement	4.2
Future small schemes	14
Midlands total	23.9

£53m for the South East

The South East will benefit from £11.6m on four projects and £41.6m for future schemes.

South East	Estimated cost £millions
M27 Junction 7 Improvements	2.5
A3 Northbound Off Slip at University Interchange (Guildford)	1.6
A3 Stoke Interchange Southbound Off Slip Improvements (Guildford)	2.5
A20 Port of Dover Technology Improvements	5
Future small schemes	41.6
South East total	53.2

£32m for the South West

M5 in the South West will see almost £20m of improvements to ensure better journeys for motorists. About £12m will be allocated shortly.

South West	Estimated cost £millions
M5 Junction 19 Improvements	2.8
M5 Junction 17 – 18 Driver Information and Queue Protection Scheme	4.3
M5 Junction 24 – 25 Driver Information and Queue Protection Scheme	7.1
M5 Junction 23 – 24 Driver Information and Queue Protection Scheme	5.5
Future small schemes	12.4
South West total	32.1