Trio of road schemes valued at £2bn backed by the government

Plans to dual the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner, increase the capacity of Simister Island off the M60 in Bury, and build the Middlewich bypass in Cheshire have all been greenlit.

It is hoped that the hat-trick of road projects, which could cost just shy of £2bn according to National Highways estimates, could unlock around 17,000 homes, the government said.

A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme 

The project will see the remaining single-carriageway sections of the road between Penrith in Cumbria and Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire duelled, a move that could shave 12 minutes of journey times.

It is hoped the project will “increase capacity and improve journey times and connectivity” from the North West to the A1 and onwards into the North East, the government said.

Simister Island upgrades

Simister Island is at the confluence of three motorways, the M60/M62/M66, and is plagued by congestion.

Work to upgrade it will include improvements to Junction 18 of the M60 and to “facilitate smoother flows of traffic along the connecting motorways”, National Highways has said previously.

The hard shoulder between J17 and J18 will be converted into a traffic lane, providing five lanes in both directions.

Middlewich Eastern bypass

The scheme is a 1.6-mile two-way single carriageway designed to alleviate congestion at the A54 and A533 junction.

Access to the road would be from two new roundabout junctions, one off of Pochin Way and the other at Booth Lane. There would also be a bridge built over the Trent and Mersey Canal and another over the Sandbach to Northwich railway line.

Pete Whittingham, associate planning director at Tritax Big Box Developments, commented: “As a long-term developer in Middlewich, we very much welcome the Department for Transport’s long-awaited decision to fund the Middlewich Eastern Bypass, which will unlock more development land at MAGNITUDE.

“In response to this news, we are currently updating our plans to allow us to deliver up to 1 million sq ft on already allocated land, which will link to this new road.”

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Transport is the backbone of our economy, which is why we are giving them the record funding boost they need, putting taxpayer’s money where it matters most and making every day journeys easier.

“With over £92 billion investment, including the biggest ever boost for city regions in the North and Midlands, we’re delivering the schemes that fast-track economic growth and jobs, connect communities, and will help us build 1.5 million new homes, as we deliver our Plan for Change.

“We’re forging ahead with the vital new transport infrastructure Britain needs, and improving what we’ve already got, to deliver a new era of renewal and opportunity.”