£15 billion road upgrade plan updated to minimise congestion in the North West

£15 billion road upgrade plan updated to minimise congestion in the North West

Highways England has updated its £15 billion road improvement programme to reduce the impact of roadworks on motorists and minimise congestion while improvements take place.

Plans for 26 road upgrades have been revised to reduce roadworks taking place in the same area of the network or on popular journey routes at the same time. This will mean less congestion for motorists as Highways England embarks on the biggest road upgrade plan for a generation.

The Supplementary Delivery Plan published today will see Highways England rescheduling its programme for the schemes between three and 24 months – meaning a number of schemes will be completed earlier than planned. All are still set for delivery as part of the Government’s first road investment strategy.

Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England Chief Executive said: “Our update today is a sensible and responsible way to deliver major national investment in road infrastructure. It will keep our roads moving, deliver a lasting legacy for the country and ensure best value for money for the taxpayer.”

Highways England will be starting work on five new smart motorway schemes in the North West by spring 2021, providing nearly 100 miles of extra lanes and improving the flow of traffic. The timings of three of these road improvements have been rescheduled so drivers in the region face the fewest possible delays.

Construction work has been brought forward on the M56 junction 6 to 8 smart motorways and work will now start in 2018/19.

Construction work has also been brought forward on the M6 junction 21a to 26 and will now take place earlier in 2018/19.

Construction work on the M60 junction 24 to 4 has been rescheduled and will now start in 2020/21.

The M53 smart motorway (junctions 5-11) near Ellesmere Port is being paused for further review and consideration as part of the next five-year roads investment period starting in spring 2020.

Two further smart motorway schemes, M62 junction 20 to 25 and M62 junction 10-12, are being taken forward as planned in this roads investment period.

Now, more than two years into delivery of a £15 billion Government investment in motorways and major A roads, Highways England has already completed 18 major schemes, adding more than 190 lane miles of much-needed capacity to the nation’s roads.