Regional transport body Transport for the South East (TfSE), has released its shortlist of top 10 Major Road Network (MRN) bids, hoping to secure a share of the £3.5bn 2020-2025 funding package.
The schemes each cost between £20m and £50m and would be delivered by 2025.
Shortlisted schemes were assessed against a range of national criteria as well as TfSE’s strategic objectives on sustainable economic growth, improved quality of life and the environment.
TfSE chair Cllr Keith Glazier aid: 'The schemes we have put forward would, if funded, mean better and more reliable journeys for road users and help reduce urban congestion, speed up journey times and support new housing and jobs.
'By speaking with one voice to influence where and how money is spent in our region, Transport for the South East is already making a real difference for the seven and a half million people who live and work in the South East.'
The shortlisted schemes are:
- Northam Rail Bridge Replacement and Enhancement; Southampton City Council
- A284 Lyminster Bypass; West Sussex County Council
- Redbridge Causeway; Hampshire County Council
- A249 at M2 Junction 5; Kent County Council
- A22 Corridor Package; East Sussex County Council
- A320 North Corridor; Surrey County Council
- A259 (King’s Road) Seafront Highways Structures (Arches) Renewal Programme; Brighton & Hove City Council
- A28 Birchington, Acol and Westgate-on-Sea Relief Road; Kent County Council
- A259 Bognor Regis to Littlehampton Enhancement; West Sussex County Council
- A259 South Coast Road Corridor; East Sussex County Council
The £3.5bn funding package also covers Large Local Major (LLM) projects. An additional shortlist of potential £50m plus LLM schemes is also being assessed and are due to be submitted to the Department for Transport in the autumn, TfSE said.
The schemes that have not made the cut at this stage will provide a potential pipeline to be considered for inclusion in the next funding period from 2025 to 2030.
Also this autumn, TfSE will publish its draft transport strategy for public consultation, which looks at plans and priorities up until 2050.
Cllr Glazier added: 'Our 30-year draft transport strategy will make clear that roads will continue to play a central role in our green future – but we need to go further, faster to encourage take-up of cleaner fuel alternatives, greater use of public transport and harness the potential of new technology to transform the way we travel.'
