New road schemes approved in drive for growth

A NEW link road in West Yorkshire has been given the green light alongside seven other highways schemes as the Government pushes ahead with a new infrastructure investment drive.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlinTransport secretary Patrick McLoughlin
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin yesterday announced a raft of small-scale highways improvements across England worth more than £300m, designed to remove problem bottlenecks and reduce congestion for commuters.

Yorkshire will receive nearly £24m of Whitehall funds from the Department for Transport’s ‘pinch-point’ fund towards eight different schemes costing £35m in total, with local authorities required to make up the difference.

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Alongside a new £6 million link road in Pontefract, improvements will be made to key junctions in Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale and Rotherham. It follows funding last year to improve similar bottlenecks in Hull and Goole.

Mr McLoughlin said the investment proved the Coalition is “serious” about using infrastructure spending to help kick-start the economy and would help create 100,000 jobs.

“This Government is taking action on both jobs and growth,” he said. “The schemes we have announced today are designed to target key bottlenecks around the country, making life easier for the thousands of motorists and businesses who use the local road network every day.

“I look forward to seeing works underway as soon as possible.”

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The funding is part of a renewed focus on infrastructure spending by the Government ahead of the crucial post-2015 spending review on June 26.

The Coalition initially slashed capital spending within months of coming to power as Ministers sought to reign in the deficit.

But many cancelled transport schemes have since been given the green light by Chancellor George Osborne, amid mounting criticism that investment was required to help the ailing economy.

Further infrastructure spending was announced in the autumn statement last December, and again in the Budget in March.

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Speaking in Manchester on Thursday night, Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander hinted that further long-term investment plans would be unveiled later this month by Mr Osborne

He said: “For key areas of capital expenditure - like infrastructure - we intend to make commitments right through to the end of the decade.”

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post yesterday, Mr McLoughlin pointed out the Government has already announced plans for investment in the railways up to 2020, including the Northern Hub project and the electrification of the Midland Mainline.

“There is certainly a lot to be said for longer term infrastructure planning,” he said. “It’s something which the Government is currently looking at. But I think I will wait for June 26 to hear what the Chancellor says.”

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The mile-long link road in Pontefract is the most eye-catching of the minor schemes announced yesterday, and was warmly welcomed by Wakefield Council, which will contribute around a third of the £6m cost.

Council leader Peter Box said: “We welcome today’s news that the scheme to create the Northern Link Road in Pontefract has successfully received £4.1m from the Government’s pinch-point fund.

“The new road will unlock housing and development opportunities in Pontefract, help to ease traffic congestion and improve the local transport infrastructure.”

There were mixed feelings in Leeds, which secured funding to improve the A647 to Bradford but missed out on a bid to improve a roundabout on the A6120.

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Councillor Richard Lewis, executive member for economy and development, said: “Whilst we are disappointed we didn’t get the money for the Rodley roundabout scheme, this money is very welcome and will go a long way to helping to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and bus journey times on one of the key routes between Bradford and Leeds.”

Road projects getting the green light

• New £6m link road built on north side of Pontefract, linking Park Road with Skinner Road.

• £5.1m upgrading four junctions along A61 north of Sheffield towards Barnsley and the M1.

• £4.9m converting ‘Pool Green’ roundabout in Rotherham into crossroads with traffic lights.

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• £3.8m on new junction with traffic lights on A6037 Canal Road in Bradford where it meets Stanley Road.

• £3.4m improving junction on A647 Bradford Road in Leeds at Thornbury Barracks.

• £3.4m improving notorious Hipperholme crossroads on A58 east of Halifax.

• £2.7m refurbishing the Old Flatts Bridge which carries the A630 Sheffield Parkway - key route into Sheffield.

• £1.6m improving the A642/A629 junction east of Huddersfield.