Cameron announces '£15bn cash injection' for UK's worst roads

Britain's worst roads will get a £15bn makeover after David Cameron announced a huge cash boost to some of Britain's biggest problem hotspots in a speech today.

The Prime Minister told the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) that hundreds of extra lane miles will be created on motorways and trunk roads as part of a "roads revolution" that will speed up journey times.

The PM believes the project will be the "biggest, boldest and most far-reaching" upgrade to the UK's road network in a generation after it is announced in next month's Autumn Statement.

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Cameron promises biggest road improvement programme since the 1970s

David Cameron has promised the biggest road improvement project since the 1970s after announcing £15bn will be invested into Britain's road network.

The Prime Minister said "pinch points" on stretches of the A1 north of Newcastle, the A47 in the east of England, the A27 on the south coast, and roads across the Pennines would all be among those due to receive funding for improvements.

Cameron pledges £15bn for 100 road projects

The Prime Minister has pledged to spend £15bn on improving Britain's roads between now and 2020.

Speaking at the CBI's annual conference today David Cameron said up to 100 new road schemes could start work in the next few years as key roads such as the A303 in the West of England, the A1 north of Newcastle, the A47 in the East of England and roads that crossed the Pennines all got improvements.

He said: "We are now not only spending as much on rail as any government since Victorian times but on roads we are now spending more than any government since the big expansion of the 1970s."

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Cameron's 'road revolution' will 'trash' environment

Areas of protected countryside will be "trashed" by a £15bn "road revolution" the government is expected to formally announce in the Autumn Statement, transport campaigners have warned.

Chris Todd, roads campaigner at the Campaign for Better Transport, said:

The road building schemes the Government is so keen to talk up will trash protected areas and do nothing for the economy.

It makes no sense to spend billions ploughing more lanes of traffic through our National Parks or desecrating irreplaceable historic sites like Stonehenge.

These schemes will make people more dependent than ever on their cars, place greater costs on the NHS, while failing to tackle problems like the massive backlog of pot holes blighting local roads.

– Chris Todd

PM: UK's future relies on 'world-class infrastructure'

Potential projects include tunnelling under Stonehenge. Credit: PA

The UK needs "world-class infrastructure" if it is to secure its future, the Prime Minister will say when he signals plans for major structural changes to some of Britain's busiest roads.

David Cameron is expected to signal a £15bn lifeline to Britain's congested roads, which will be detailed in next month's Autumn Statement.

In a speech to the CBI's annual conference, Mr Cameron will say:

And I can tell you this today: in three weeks' time you will see an autumn statement where we choose the future again. At its heart is the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching road improvement programme in four decades: over 100 improvements to our major roads.

Hundreds of extra lane miles on our motorways and trunk roads. The green light given to major projects that have been stalled for years. Action to improve some of the most important arteries in our country - like the A303 and the A1 - which for too long have held parts of our country back. And all underpinned by over £15bn worth of investment.

This will be nothing less than a roads revolution - one which will lead to quicker journey times, more jobs, and businesses boosted right across the country.

– David Cameron

PM: '£15BN cash injection' for UK's worst roads

Britain's worst roads will get a £15bn makeover after David Cameron announces a huge cash boost to tackle congestion on motorways, trunk and A roads in a speech to business leaders later today.

David Cameron Credit: PA

The Prime Minister will tell the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) hundreds of extra lane miles will be created on motorways and trunk roads as part of a "roads revolution" that will speed up journey times.

The PM believes the project will be the "biggest, boldest and most far-reaching" upgrade to the UK's road network in a generation after details are announced in next month's Autumn Statement.

Among plans considered by the Government are proposals to build under Stonehenge to help ease congestion on the A303.

Work on stretches of the A1 round Newcastle, roads across the Pennines, the A47 in the east of England and the A27 on the south coast are also in line for funding.

Britain's neglected roads have been slowly getting worse - a survey from the Asphalt Industry Alliance in April revealed it would cost at least £12bn to get roads in England and Wales back to a "reasonable" condition.

However, in 2013 that cost was estimated at £10.5bn.

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