WORCESTERSHIRE County Council can bid for a share of £490m to improve its roads as part of a new Government scheme.
The funding, which was announced last Thursday (April 6) by the Department for Transport, will be for schemes from 2018 to 2020 and is designed to tackle congestion as well as provide upgrades to roads to improve journey times.
The pot of money is from the National Productivity Investment Fund which is providing £1.3billion to enhance transport links to boost growth.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “We are investing record amounts on our roads – spending more than £23billion on providing better journeys for motorists.
“We are also committing a further £1.3billion up to 2020 to cut congestion and provide important upgrades to ensure our roads are fit for the future.
“This money will allow councils to go even further to improve their roads and will be targeted at areas which need it most, providing a significant boost to the UK’s economy.”
The first tranche of money to councils, £185m, is already making a difference. In the north this includes improving roads in Blackpool, better access to the M65 near Blackburn and improving the A483 and A55 for the expansion of Chester Business Park.
In the south west, it is supporting infrastructure for growth and is likely to include a critical link in Bridgwater supporting construction of Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station and housing development in South Bridgwater.
Highways England is also spending £220m on congestion relief schemes at identified traffic hotspots.
This is providing £90m for pinch point projects in the north, £23m for the Midlands, £53m for the south east, £32m for the south west and £16m for the east.
The competition will run until June 30 and the county council will be provided with details of how to bid.
