Congestion schemes in Shropshire and Staffordshire share in £80m Government handout
CONGESTION schemes in Staffordshire and Shropshire are set to be the recipients of a share of a new £80m handout from the Department for Transport.
The funding is intended to tackle pinch points that clog up traffic flow on local roads.
The latest award, announced by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, builds on the £190m already allocated earlier this year to similar local congestion-busting schemes throughout England.
Of that £80m, £25m in government funding has been awarded to 15 schemes in England to help tackle bottlenecks on the local road network.
In Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Council has been awarded £1.121m towards the £1.6m cost of the Malinslee Roundabout Improvement Scheme. Work will start in November and end in April 2015.
The scheme is designed to alleviate congestion in Telford town centre by improving the Malinslee roundabout to prioritise bus improvements. The scheme also includes Variable Messaging Signage around the Telford Town Centre Box to better manage access to all town centre car parks. A combined footway/cycleway connecting key areas will also be provided.
The DfT has also awarded Staffordshire County Council £1.376m towards the full cost of a £2m improvement scheme in Gungate, Tamworth.
The scheme is a package of improvements to provide additional highway capacity along the Gungate Corridor. The proposals comprise the widening and re-phasing of signals at Fountains junction, new toucan crossing facilities to replace a school crossing patrol at Fountains junction, co-ordinating the following two junctions southwards and re-phasing of traffic signals to the south of the corridor to increase capacity.
The county council said the Gungate corridor provided a critical link in Tamworth connecting to the town centre and beyond. Anker Valley is a significant housing site located on this congested corridor and the improvements will deliver the first phase of development.
Mr McLoughlin, said: “By removing local bottlenecks and improving access to local development sites and communities, these schemes will help get people to and from work and power the economy. They also have the potential to help deliver new jobs and homes.”
The Secretary of State also announced he was inviting local councils to submit bids by the end of October for a share of the remaining £55m in the Local Pinch Point Fund.
