Pinch Point cash could fund sustainable transport schemes

01/08/2019 | CHRIS AMES

The Department for Transport (DfT) has published guidance to help councils apply for a share of nearly £350m to improve local roads.

Under the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund, £198m will be available for 2019/20 and 2020/21, while a total of £150m will be available in 2021/22 and 2022/23 Under the Pinch Point Fund.

The guidance for the Pinch Point Fund states that it aims to boost economic growth through measures to ease congestion and improve journey times.

Nevertheless, the guidance suggests that a wide range of sustainable transport measures could secure funding. It states that projects could include road widening, additional traffic lanes to reduce congestion, additional footway or cycleway provision.

A project might also involve replacing a junction with a roundabout or traffic signalled arrangement to improve traffic flow, aim to address severance caused by highways, or provide new pedestrian facilities.

Proposals could include bus priority measures to improve journey times, bus lanes or signalling to give priority at junctions, bus gates or measures to ensure compliance. Cycle priority at junctions and other measures to improve cycle safety might be proposed.

The fund will operate via a full competition over two phases, ‘with the first acting as a light-touch process to reduce the burden on authorities’.

Expressions of interest should be submitted by 31 January 2020, after which authorities successful in passing to phase 2 should provide ‘a further and detailed submission’.

The guidance for the Challenge Fund explains that it is to enable councils bid for major maintenance projects that are otherwise difficult to fund through the usual formula needs element allocations from government.

During the current financial year, £98m is available and each council can submit one bid for up to £5m. The DfT is also seeking expressions of interest − but not bids − for larger projects in 2020/21 with a minimum DfT contribution of £5m each, for which a total of £100m is available.

The deadline for both is 31 October.

Eligible types of project under the Challenge Fund

  • structural maintenance, strengthening or renewal of bridges, viaducts, retaining walls or other key structures, footbridge or cycle bridge renewal
  • major maintenance, full depth reconstruction of carriageways, and structural maintenance of tunnels
  • resurfacing of carriageways including improvements to footways or cycleways that are within the highway boundary
  • renewal of gullies and replacement of drainage assets
 

 

 

 

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
This role is fundamental to the success of the Highways Service. Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council
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