Peninsula Transport has submitted a ‘big six’ list of high-priority road improvement schemes to government for consideration as part of a £500M plus, five-year investment programme.
The schemes to cut congestion, speed up journeys and support local and regional economic would each cost between £20m and £50m and would need to be delivered by 2025 if funded.
It follows a request from government in December 2018 for regions to agree their priorities for improving the Major Road Network (MRN), which comprises the country’s busiest and most economically important local authority ‘A’ roads.
The MRN schemes were agreed by Peninsula Transport’s board in July following an assessment process by consultants AECOM and are worth up to £254M with £217M of funding being asked of the Department for Transport (DfT)
Shortlisted schemes were assessed against a range of national criteria as well as Peninsula Transport’s key objectives which focus on sustainable economic growth, improved quality of life and the environment.
The big six are:
A382 Drumbridges to Newton Abbott
A374/A386/A3064Plymouth MRN Phase I
A39 Atlantic highway (Camelford Bypass)
A39/A361 Roundswell to Bishop’s Tawton
A361 Glastonbury and Pilton pinch point improvements
A379 Exeter Outer Ring Road
Cllr Geoff Brown, Peninsula Transport’s Chair, said: “A high-quality, reliable transport network is absolutely critical to our region’s economic prosperity, so it’s vital we make a strong case for ongoing investment on behalf of people and businesses in the Peninsula.
“The schemes we have put forward would, if funded, mean better and more reliable journeys for road users and help reduce congestion, speed up journey times and support new housing and jobs. A further 12 MRN schemes are being developed for consideration in the next funding window (2025-2030). “
An additional three £50m+ Large Local Major (LLM) schemes worth up to £302M (A38 Manadon Interchange, M5 jct 28 Cullompton, A39 Walton Ashcott Bypass) which would deliver significant local benefit have also been submitted for the national programme for 2020-25.
All of the schemes submitted are supported by a 114 page Regional Evidence Base document which sets out in details all the regional challenges and opportunities.
Over £500M package of transport schemes for South West submitted to government
