Spending Review: Highways Agency
The Department for Transport has released further information about the major road building schemes confirmed and axed, following the Government’s comprehensive spending revenue announced today.
The major schemes to survive include:
- The A11 in Norfolk – dualling the ‘missing link’ of single carriageway, between Fiveways junction and Thetford.
- The M4 and M5 north of Bristol – fixing the worst congestion spot in the South West, and easing journeys to Wales.
- The M1 in Derbyshire (junctions 28-31) – improving access to Sheffield using managed motorways technology.
- The A23 in Sussex – dealing with a key bottleneck between London and Brighton.
- The M62 near Leeds (junctions 25-30) – adding capacity between Yorkshire and the North West using managed motorways.
Not so good news came with the announcement that the following schemes would not be funded in the short to medium term and as a result have been cancelled:
- A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst
- A21 Flimwell to Robertsbridge
- A19 Moor Farm
- A1 Leeming to Barton
- A19 Seaton Burn Interchange
- A47 Blofield to North Burlingham
- A21 Baldslow Interchange
The Highways Agency have been taking forward a number of other schemes whose priority they are still considering, in light of the SR settlement. Some will proceed in this SR period; others will be the subject of further preparation for possible funding in future SR periods. Further announcements are expected to be made in the next few weeks.
The roads programme includes one individual scheme which is estimated to cost over £1bn to build – the A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton scheme. The DfT has confirmed that the project will not now go ahead in its current form but that the Department will look again at what can be done to reduce congestion on the route.
No new money has been made available to make any additional capacity available at the Dartford crossing, however the DfT will review ways of increasing revenue to fund future capacity.
Prices will rise though, subject to consultation, from £1.50 to £2.00 in 2011 for cars, rising to £2.50 in 2012. Prices for other vehicles will also increase. Given its strategic importance the Department for Transport has decided not to sell the Crossing at the present time. At the same time, free flow charging will be introduced from 2012. And more immediately, charges will be lifted at times of severe congestion to aid flow through the charging plaza.
Maintenance of the road network is likely to move further into private organisation’s hands, with the DfT actively looking to develop agreement with the private sector, the average annual spend on maintenance in the four year Spending Review period to 2014/15 will now be £714m, compared to spending of £748m in 2010/11.
The DfT will achieve this by:
- New contracts and improved commercial management which will drive even better supplier performance and further value for money.
- Making the most of buying power by adopting a national framework for commodity purchase such as gantries and road surfacing which will deliver cost savings to suppliers and the Agency.
- Investing in asset management systems to better predict our maintenance needs.
- Reviewing technical standards to specify new assets at lower initial cost and extend the life of the assets.
- Reviewing when and where maintenance takes place, looking closely at where less costly maintenance practices – such as day time works – should happen.
- Review of renewal works leading to less frequent replacement of non-critical assets.
The DfT will continue to provide up to date on-road traffic information and disseminate this directly online and through other media. the National Traffic Control Centre will be replaced by a new National Traffic Information Service, which will deliver a £13m per annum saving.
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