Midlands Connect is urging government backing for 17 crucial road projects in the region.
- Four significant projects from the second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) face delays and need attention.
- The £250M A38 Derby Junction upgrade is essential despite its recent legal challenges.
- Midlands Connect eyes strategic improvements for the RIS3 period, crucial for regional growth.
- National Highways faces pressure to efficiently manage their investment portfolio amid funding issues.
Midlands Connect, a pivotal sub-national transport body, is actively seeking government endorsement for 17 road projects that could significantly enhance the Midlands region. An essential focus of this endeavour is four projects, previously delayed, which were outlined in National Highways’ second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2), set from 2020 to 2025. Additionally, 13 projects are earmarked as priorities for the upcoming third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), spanning 2025 to 2030.
Highlighted among the deferred RIS2 initiatives is the substantial £250M upgrade of the A38 Derby Junction. Legal hurdles had stalled this project, despite securing a Development Consent Order (DCO) last August. Intended to alleviate congestion, the project proposes lowering the A38 beneath modified junctions, expanding it to three lanes between Kingsway and Kedleston Road, and constructing new overpass bridges at Little Eaton junction. However, a renewed legal challenge has indefinitely paused these plans.
The A64 Newark Bypass, estimated between £400M and £500M, has been heralded as ‘imperative’ by Midlands Connect’s Sir John Peace. The plan involves doubling the current carriageway from Farndon to Winthorpe, enhancing traffic signals, and building a new dual-carriageway bridge over the A1. Despite significant planning, these projects illustrate the complex obstacles faced in realising infrastructural advancements.
Looking to the future, Midlands Connect has steered attention towards a range of other projects for RIS3. Strategic enhancements such as the A1/A52 junction improvement and A46 corridor upgrades at various locations are under close scrutiny. These initiatives aim to address long-standing traffic issues and promote smoother commutes across the region, reinforcing the Midlands as an economic powerhouse.
Despite these ambitious plans, National Highways is grappling with substantial pressure to deliver its strategic investments efficiently. Past postponements, as reported by the parliamentary transport select committee, have already burdened the agency with confusion and uncertainty in the industry. The unconfirmed RIS3 portfolio faces further challenges, especially after the revelation of a £22bn funding shortfall. Projects like the A303 Stonehenge tunnel cancellation signal potential setbacks for other proposed schemes, casting doubt on the future of strategic road infrastructure expansion.
Government backing for these road projects is crucial for addressing delays and supporting regional growth.
