DfT pulls out the stops on roads projects

30/09/2019 | DOMINIC BROWNE

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that a raft of road schemes have been given the go ahead with £100m and put into immediate construction.

The schemes draw investment from the National Roads Fund, which ringfences vehicle excise duty cash from 2020-2025, allocating £25.3bn to Highways England's second road investment strategy (RIS 2) and £3.5bn to the major road network and large local majors.

RIS 2

Chancellor Sajid Javid announced that the A66 Trans-Pennine expressway and the A46 Newark bypass will be made fully dual carriageway under RIS 2.

Improvements to the M60 Simister Island interchange in Manchester and widening the A12 were also announced, along with upgrades to the A428 between Cambridge and Milton Keynes.

For construction

The DfT revealed that four schemes have been approved for construction under local bids, under a £100m first round:

  • £31m for the Preston western distributor scheme (pictured): a new dual carriageway link between the M55 and the A583 is designed to improve travel between the enterprise zone at Warton and the Springfields nuclear facility at Salwick, as well as reduce congestion in Preston and directly lead to the creation of 3,575 houses and the creation of over 500 jobs. Through the Lancashire County Council funded link road, a further 1,745 houses will also be built.
  • £25.5m for the Stubbington bypass: a new 3.5km single carriageway road aims to improve the environment in the village with the removal of traffic as well as improve access to development sites in Gosport.
  • £22.5m for the White Hart junction: improving the intersection between the A419 and A420 to the east of Swindon, which aims to benefit existing users of the junction and help unlock development of the New Eastern Villages site which includes over 8,650 dwellings and 40 hectares of employment land. By itself, the White Hart junction scheme will facilitate the development of 799 dwellings.
  • £22.9m for the Wichelstowe southern access scheme: construction of an access road to the Wichelstowe development site under the M4 motorway which will unlock an additional 2,500 residential units on top of the currently permitted 2000 units.

For development

Seven other schemes will be awarded funding to develop their business cases and a further seven have been given approval to proceed and to apply for funding at a later stage.

This is the first wave of funding to be announced under the current major road network and large local majors programme, with further rounds to be announced in the next few months, the DfT said.

Schemes at strategic outline business case which have been awarded development funding:

  • Tyne Bridge and Central motorway renewal
  • A38 Bromsgrove route enhancement programme
  • A511 growth corridor (Leicestershire)
  • A38 – (Bristol Airport access improvement)
  • A38 Manadon interchange (Plymouth)
  • A374/A386/A3064 Plymouth MRN phase 1
  • A140 Long Stratton bypass

Schemes given approval to proceed to the next stage:

  • A1079 improvement – East Riding of Yorkshire
  • Isham bypass, Northamptonshire
  • A28 Birchington, Acol and Westgate-on-Sea relief road
  • Southampton West Quay road realignment
  • A146 Barnby bends
  • Lombard roundabout (Croydon)
  • A13 Lodge Lane (Dagenham)

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356- £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Brompton on Swale, Richmond
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Permit Officer - Internal works promoter - WMF2244e

£34,434 - £35,412
The streetworks Permit Officer role within the highways service Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£41,816 - £45,175
You will be based in the Highways Development Team and work closely with colleagues across the wider transport service. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: West Northamptonshire Council

Transport Project Officer

£34,203 - £37,067
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated project officer to work in our Highways and Transport Service. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: West Northamptonshire Council

Engineer - Structures

£40,777 - £44,075
Join the successful Structures team, and become a vital team member Broad Lane Office, Yate
Recruiter: South Gloucestershire Council

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2251e

£26,403 - £26,824
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking an organised and enthusiastic individual Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Traffic Management Technician WMF2256e

£34,434 to £35,412 (pay award pending)
Westmorland and Furness Council is looking for three experienced and motivated individuals Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Bridge Technician - WMF2257e

£34,434 - £35,412
We are currently seeking to recruit a Senior Bridge Technician to join our Bridges and Structures team. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Network Officer WMF2263e

£38,220 - £39,152
In this role, you will assist in leading the South Lakes Area Highways team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Traffic Management Technician - WMF2240e

£28,598 - £29,540
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking a committed and technically capable individual to join our Traffic Management Team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Technician-Road Closures

£35,422 - £38,730
The Network Planning division is seeking to appoint someone who is enthusiastic and a team player Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Technician - Road Closures (2 Posts)

£29,719 - £31,691
The Network Planning division is seeking to appoint someone who is enthusiastic, an excellent team player Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Structures Inspector

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for two Permanent Structure Inspectors to join our dynamic SBIM team Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have fantastic opportunities for a permanent Highways Maintenance Operatives Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: Amey

Site Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Site Manager Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Principal Commercial Manager

£Competitive
The SBIM contract involves delivering inspection and maintenance programmes for National Highways Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Commercial Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Senior Commercial Manager Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have fantastic opportunities for a permanent Highways Maintenance Operatives. Northampton, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: Amey

Managing QS

£Competitive
In this role, you will support the Senior Commercial team in the end to end commercial process for the Area 12 contract. Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW