Labour has approved £90 million worth of road improvement works in an effort to reduce journey times, lower pollution, and improve road safety.
This investment is part of the government’s Plan for Change initiative, which aims to upgrade infrastructure across the country. The funding will be allocated to four key routes: the A350 in Wiltshire, the A647 and Stanningley Bypass in Leeds, the South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR) in Buckinghamshire, and the A127/A130 Interchange in Essex.
The most significant project is the £32.3 million upgrade to the A350 Chippenham bypass, with £26 million of that coming from the government. This project will convert a single-lane section into a dual carriageway, which the Department for Transport claims will reduce journey times by up to 25 percent. Construction is set to begin in the spring of next year.
Elsewhere, the A647 will receive a new roundabout and structural improvements, while the SEALR project will add a new dual carriageway to support the development of up to 16,000 new homes in the area. The SEALR scheme has already been approved and is expected to cost around £147 million in total, with most of the funding coming from local government.
The Fairglen Interchange, which connects the A127 and A130, will receive approximately £15 million in funding. This is in addition to the £44 million already committed by local authorities and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership. The improvements will include a dedicated off-slip road and the installation of a pedestrian and cycle bridge to improve traffic flow and accessibility.
The Minister for Future Roads, Lillian Greenwood, emphasised the importance of these projects, stating that roads are “the backbone of a growing economy, which is why we’re giving these vital schemes the go ahead, helping deliver our Plan for Change.”
She also noted, “Economic growth has been stunted for too long, so we’re giving the green light and investing in vital schemes to help people get from A to B more easily, however they choose to travel.”
However, this announcement follows the government’s recent cancellation of several major road infrastructure projects, including the Stonehenge tunnel on the A303 in Wiltshire and the A27 Arundel bypass in West Sussex.
All of the newly announced roadworks are expected to be completed within the next few years, with the A350 project anticipated to take around 18 months.
