Five road schemes named in ‘ambitious’ plan

Five road schemes in the East Midlands form part of an “ambitious, but wholly reasonable” list of 20 regional projects that sub-national transport body Midlands Connect wants to see prioritised for construction or development between 2020 and 2025, as part of a record £25bn roads fund.

The document is seeking clarity from Highways England that already committed projects will be completed by 2025, like junction improvements to the A38 in Derby and A52 in Nottingham; that schemes with no current timescale for construction are finalised, such as the A46 Newark Northern Bypass; and that Highways England works with HS2 Ltd on a scheme to improve the A52/M1 Junction 25 to make sure it’s ready for the arrival of High Speed Two trains in 2033.

Midlands Connect is seeking assurances that the region will see the benefit of a record £25 billion roads fund for the next five years, a 40% increase on the previous period.

Funding for strategic roads is split in to five-year Road Investment Strategy (RIS) periods. RIS1 ends in March 2020; RIS2 runs from April 2020 until March 2025. Midlands Connect’s priorities in the East Midlands include:

– Complete the construction of RIS1 (2015-2020) commitments – A38 Derby Junctions and A52 Nottingham Junctions

Six junctions on the A52 are due for development, in two phases. Smaller junctions at Silverdale, Bingham, Stragglethorpe and Gamston are due to start in 2019, with work on larger junctions Nottingham Knight and Wheatcroft expected to start in 2022. Neither have estimated completion dates. Improvements on the A38 are scheduled at congestion pinch points, where it meets the A511, A52 and A61. Construction isn’t due to start until 2021, with estimated completion by 2024.

– Deliver schemes developed in RIS1 (2015-2020) – A46 Newark Northern Bypass and M1 J19-23a smart motorway (including J21 upgrade)

Midlands Connect is working with Transport for the East Midlands and local authorities to press for improvements to the A46 Newark Northern Bypass, which was announced in 2014 but has no current construction schedule. The scheme will remove a major bottleneck, improving access to freight traffic and facilitating major housing and employment development. Extending the smart motorway scheme on the M1 between Junction 19-23a will create a continuous, reliable smart motorway link from London to Yorkshire, while upgrading Junction 21 is important to Midlands Connect’s long term plan for the A46 corridor.

– A46 and A5 corridors, and access to HS2 East Midlands Hub at Toton

Midlands Connect is preparing long-term corridor improvement plans for the A5 and the A46 to shape a delivery programme of shovel-ready schemes for the following decade, moving away from constrained five-year planning periods.

Midlands Connect says it is also important that Highways England and HS2 Ltd work together to develop a comprehensive scheme for the A52/M1 Junction 25 to future-proof it ready for the arrival of HS2 East Midlands Hub station in 2033.

Simon Statham, director of technical programmes at Midlands Connect, said: “The East Midlands economy depends on a reliable road network, but congestion is all too familiar on the A46, M1, A38 and A52, which costs people and businesses money and holds back growth. We want to see existing schemes on these important routes delivered as soon as possible, while we develop a long-term pipeline of improvements that could transform the way people and businesses get around the East Midlands, and the country.

“The priorities we’ve set out will ensure the region makes the most of record investment in our roads over the next five years, and future-proof the network for the next generation. We’re working closely with Highways England and the government to make our priorities clear; delivering them is essential for all our people and businesses to reach their full potential.”

Scott Knowles, chief executive at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) said: “The East Midlands is a major contributor to the national economy but could be even more so if certain infrastructure issues were addressed.

“We know from talking to our members that congested on local roads hits them hard, adding to the daily cost of doing business and impacting on productivity. Some have told us they have even considered relocating to get round the problem.”

“Improving roads at these known pinch points will enhance local business and be a step forwards making the region more attractive to inward investors”.

An announcement on the Road Investment Strategy 2 programme is expected later in 2019.

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