Four major road and bridge projects designed to help level up infrastructure across England will receive a share of £160.8m in UK government funding, the Department for Transport has announced.
Selected schemes in Newcastle, Cornwall, Greater Manchester and Southampton aim to reduce congestion, improve connectivity and will reportedly generate an estimated £659.3m for the regions through improved investment, new housing and employment opportunities.
Of the four transport schemes, some £78.5m is for a new 3.85-mile (6.2km) road linking St Austell to the A30 – the main transport artery in Cornwall; £35.3m is for essential maintenance to the Tyne Bridge and adjacent Central Motorway, including improvements to traffic management and cycle route facilities; £33.6m to enhance walking and cycling accessibility and tackle congestion across the A34 between Greater Manchester and Stockport; and £13.4m for essential maintenance to the A35 Redbridge Causeway, which links New Forest, Southampton and its port.
UK roads minister Baroness Vere said: “We are committed to delivering world-class infrastructure across all parts of the country which supports local economies to thrive. This £160.8m investment will level up those opportunities from the North East to the South West, while giving motorists, cyclists and pedestrians the modern, safe and uncongested roads they deserve.”
The investment follows a string of government measures to encourage active travel and improve road infrastructure, including £200m for cycling and walking, more than £5bn over 2020 to 2025 for highways maintenance and the introduction of a new inspection regime to tackle potholes.
