highway

The UK Highways Agency has announced plans to invest £106m on various road projects in the South West.

A total of £77m will be spent on road maintenance schemes, with an additional £29m is be invested in improvement projects.

The agency will work on this major programme until April 2015.

The programme will include a total of 14 pinch point schemes in the region to stimulate growth in the local economy, solve congestion problems and enhance safety.

There are also plans of two pinch point schemes for the M5, the first will involve the widening of the slip road at Junction 16. Work will also be carried out to add an additional lane for traffic turning left towards the A38 heading north.

"The country is in the early stages of the biggest road improvement programme since the 1970s and this is excellent news for road users in the South West."

Junction 17 near Bristol will see the resurfacing and upgrade to the signs and lining on the southbound off-slip to ease the movement of traffic towards Cribbs Causeway. Both schemes will cost a total of £1.55m and will begin later this year.

Highways Agency regional director Andrew Page-Dove said: "The country is in the early stages of the biggest road improvement programme since the 1970s and this is excellent news for road users in the South West.

"While this means more roadworks in the short term, the Agency is carrying out this large programme of work as quickly and efficiently as possible, in order to invest in the economy and support growth. These road improvements will deliver benefits to drivers in the long term by tackling congestion, making journey times more reliable and improving safety."

The agency will also carry out a widening of approach road of the A40 Over Roundabout at Gloucester, which will allow a right-turn lane onto the roundabout. It will also widen the roundabout carriageway on the north side. This project will cost approximately £200,000.

An additional £1.25m investment is being made at the Cartgate Roundabout to create dedicated left-turn lanes from the A303 into Yeovil and from Yeovil on to the A303.

Other pinch point schemes are also being planned at the A40 Longford Roundabout, on the M5 at Junction 27.

The agency has also announced maintenance investment of £18m for repairing four M5 bridges in Glouchester. An additional £5.4m will be spent on joint replacement and waterproofing on the Huntsworth Viaduct on the M5 near Bridgewater.

Early next year, major drainage repair works on the A36 between Claverton and Dundas will also be carried out.

Highways Agency area manager Dave Sledge said: "These schemes form part of a major investment in the roads infrastructure and the Agency understands that while this will have a positive benefit for South West roads and economy, there will also be disruption to drivers during any roadworks.

"Every effort is being taken to make sure the work is taking place in a coordinated way and that schemes are delivered in a manner that minimises the impact on drivers, but the number of schemes taking place means drivers will experience a greater number of roadworks over the next year."

Image: The UK Highways Agency has announced investment schemes for improvement of south-west roads. Photo: courtesy of Highways Agency.