Lincolnshire misses out on £25bn roads funding announcement

Lincolnshire’s highways chief is hoping the county will see more of its fair share of central Government road funding in the future after it was announced £25 billion will be set aside for highways projects.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid is due to announce at the Conservative Party Conference today £25 billion for a series of projects on England’s roads, including the completion of the dualling of the A46 Newark Bypass.

Lincolnshire County Councillor Councillor Richard Davies praised the work to Lincoln’s neighbour’s roads as “great news for the region”.

He said it “will make getting to and from Lincolnshire much quicker and easier for people”.

“Our hope now is that Lincolnshire receives its fair share of central government’s multi-billion pound funding pot for roads as and when further announcements are made,” he added.

Detailed plan for the North Hykeham Relief Road: LCC

He pointed to a recent bid for the North Hykeham Relief Road submitted to the Department for Transport earlier this year.

The £108 million bid, will go a long way towards the £148.5 million cost of the road which will create a new link to the south of Lincoln, connecting the A46 in the west to the A15 Lincoln Eastern Bypass, which is under construction.

The plans included four new junctions and completes the orbital ring road around Lincoln.

“This road would form an integral part of the Lincolnshire Coastal Highway, as well as forming a complete ring road around Lincoln, so we hope to receive a positive decision in the coming months,” said Councillor Davies.

“Meanwhile, we’re also continuing to push for the money needed to progress other major road improvements throughout all the rest of Lincolnshire.”

The first projects to be funded by the £25bn pot will be:

• Completing the dualling of the A66 Trans-Pennine expressway and the A46 Newark bypass
• Improving the M60 Simister Island interchange in Manchester
• Starting construction on the A428 to improve journeys between Cambridge and Milton Keynes and widening the A12 in east England

At least £5 billion will also be set aside to maintain and renew other strategic roads in the same period.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from coverage every week, as well as insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.