Yorkshire and the Humber set for £1.3Bn road investment

Highways England have met with suppliers and stakeholders today to outline how to deliver more than £1.3Bn of government investment in roads across Yorkshire and the Humber.

This investment forms part of the government’s £15Bn ‘Road Investment Strategy’ announced last year. The plan will see the levels of spending increase threefold by 2020 on England’s roads to increase their capacity and condition.

In the next five years, the £1.3Bn outlay will see major improvements and repairs will be undertaken to give road users easier, quicker and more reliable journeys. It is also hoped that the local economy will benefit by making the area more accessible from other parts of the country.

Highways England Yorkshire and North East Divisional Director, Vanessa Gilbert, said: “It’s vital that we continue to improve the existing road network which is why we’re also investing millions of pounds on resurfacing, safety barriers and other maintenance projects across the whole Yorkshire and the Humber region.”

“In addition to the £1.3 billion, we will be spending over £100 million a year for the next 5 years on maintenance and smaller scale improvement schemes. Motorways and trunk roads form the backbone of the region’s economy and this huge investment will ensure they remain healthy for many years to come.

 

Projects that are currently under construction in Yorkshire and Humber include:

A1 Leeming to Barton – the £368 million scheme will stimulate economic growth to boost the economy by creating a continuous motorway-standard route between London and Newcastle (including the M1 and A1M). The scheme will also shorten journey times and increase road safety.

M1 junctions 39 to 42 – £120 million is being spent making this stretch of the M1 a smart motorway to ease congestion and support economic development.

A160/A180 – £88.4 million project to improve access to one of the UK’s busiest ports and the surrounding area, stimulating growth and unlocking economic benefits.

M1 junctions 32 to 35A – over £100 million is being invested to upgrade this section of the M1 to a smart motorway.

 

Schemes due to commence in the Yorkshire and Humber region by 2019/20 include:

A63 Castle Street – improvements to this key route in Hull

M1 Junction 45 – junction improvements to improve access to the Aire Valley development

M62/M606 Chain Bar – scheme to tackle the severe delays between Leeds and Bradford

M621 junctions 1 to 7 – improvements to junctions to relieve congestion

M62 junctions 20 to 25 – upgrade to a smart motorway, adding an extra lane and using variable speed limits to keep traffic moving

 

Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said: “Roads are key to our nation’s prosperity. That’s why, as part of our long-term economy plan, we are making the biggest investment in roads in a generation.

“The £1.3 billion investment in Yorkshire and the Humber over the next five years will significantly improve journeys and help create jobs.

“Through schemes like these we are building the Northern Powerhouse and creating opportunities for hardworking people across the nation.”

Highways England’s Director of Major Projects in the North, Jeremy Bloom, commented: “Drivers in Yorkshire and the Humber will see significant investment in major A roads and motorways across the region. These schemes will bring significant benefits to the users of the road network.”

The government is committed to investing in more than 100 new road schemes across the country by the end of the decade, adding over 1,300 miles of new lanes to motorways and trunk roads, reducing congestion and dealing with well-known issues on the network.

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