Transport boost for Northern Powerhouse

The government will today publish its blueprint into how its £13Bn investment in transport will help to create the Northern Powerhouse.

Ministers will visit major infrastructure projects that are set to transform the region.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin is visiting the Farnworth Tunnel, where major work has begun to electrify the line between Manchester, Bolton and Preston.

The work is part of Network Rail’s north of England programme, which will see an investment of over £1Bn to improve the region’s railways, allowing hundreds more trains to run and providing space for millions more passengers a year.

The Minister will then head to Merseyside to open the new A5758 Broom’s Cross Road between Thornton and Switch Island. Supported by £14.5M of DfT funding, the road will help to relieve congestion in the area and improve highway access between Southport and the north west motorway system.

Mr. McLoughlin said: “This one nation government is determined to close the economic gap between north and south. Investing in transport – something that successive governments have failed to do sufficiently – is vital to making that happen.

“We had a choice – building the infrastructure our country needs, or letting our transport system become a brake on growth and opportunity. We have chosen to invest for the future.

“Across the north, that investment is already having a huge impact, with programmes underway to upgrade our railways and our roads. We are determined to keep the momentum going.”

Roads Minister Andrew Jones will visit the north east to see the progress made on over £60M of improvements to the A1 from Coal House to Metro Centre. Once finished in 2016, nearly four miles of the A1 will be widened to 3 lanes, relieving congestion on one of the busiest roads in the country.

Mr Jones will also visit the A1 in Northumberland to see where a further £291 million will be invested to add capacity. This investment will see the creation of the first dual carriageway from London to Ellingham, 34 miles north of Newcastle.

The aim of the Northern Powerhouse is to close the economic gap between north and south by helping the region unlock its full potential to create a more balanced, healthier economy.

The improvement and strengthening of transport links between the major cities and regions is seen as an integral part of the project – Liverpool to Hull; the north west to Yorkshire; and the north east and the Midlands – will allow people and businesses easier access to markets and employment opportunities.

The blueprint is available to see in full on the government’s website.

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