Latest news with #roadimprovement
BBC News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Work set to start on £570,000 road scheme in Watton
A £570,000 road improvement scheme in an East Yorkshire village is set to start later this Riding of Yorkshire Council said the improvements in Watton - between Driffield and Beverley - were "badly needed".They include resurfacing, widening the road and installing new passing places between the railway crossing and the junction with Cross Lane, a spokesperson work, which will be carried out during the day, is scheduled to begin on 28 July and take up to seven weeks to complete. The road will be closed to through traffic with diversions in place, but residents will still be able to access their properties, the council Paul West, the council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "This road is badly in need of improvement and we want to thank residents and motorists for their patience while we complete this work." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Huge A38 Derby upgrades get go-ahead after years of uncertainty, says Government
A major scheme to improve the A38 in Derby has been given the go-ahead, the Government has said. The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the huge project will transform the city's road network and quicken journey times. Not all details have been announced yet but the National Highways project will upgrade three key islands on the A38, which is one of Derby's busiest roads. These are at the Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton roundabouts, where flyovers and underpasses are expected to be created. Widening the road from four lanes to six lanes was also proposed as part of the works. The announcement comes just weeks after the Government's Spending Review. After the review, the DfT said it would release an update on the scheme 'in due course'. READ MORE: Chance to buy other people's rubbish from Raynesway tip READ MORE: Dozens hold protest to save 'magical' ancient woodland in Derby Join us on WhatsApp to get the latest news straight to your phone But full details about the A38 scheme have not yet been provided, such as its cost, time frame and any starting dates. Initially it was reported that the works would cost at least £250 million but that was when it was first proposed several years ago. A DfT spokesperson said the cost could not be released yet 'as a fair procurement process needs to take place first'. The Government said the A38 Derby Junction scheme 'will shave up to nine minutes off journeys, saving commuters, business and freight thousands of hours every week, boosting economic growth across the region". It adds it will support "Derby's plans for local housing and employment developments, including over 15,400 houses". 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 everyday 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.' But the project has been controversial and clouded in uncertainty for some time. It has been taken to the courts over the last few years over environmental and economic challenges. Campaign group Stop the A38 Expansion says the project should not go ahead due its 'negative environmental impacts'. It has claimed the proposed works will increase carbon emissions, increase traffic and destroy thousands of trees at Markeaton Park. The campaigners have repeatedly protested the plans and successfully stopped the scheme through its first legal challenge in 2021. The Government then re-approved the scheme in 2023 before it returned to the courts. But it was reported earlier this year the legal challenge had concluded and the project was subject to a review of the Department for Transport's spending portfolio. The campaign group has been approached for comment following the announcement made by the Government. The group's last statement on June 28 said it was awaiting news of the A38 decision. It said: "Building new roads and expanding existing roads just results in more traffic, more pollution, damages the environment and worsens the climate crisis. Extra road capacity projects also do not tend to deliver as much return on investment and economic growth as public transport and active travel schemes do. Read more - Woman fined more than £1,500 for loud music at home "Additionally, other public services face cuts, and analysts now warn that tax rises may be needed in the autumn to fund infrastructure commitments. Public services are clearly more important than outdated, climate and nature-wrecking schemes like the A38. " Jonathan Davies MP for Mid Derbyshire said he would be working 'to ensure mitigating steps are taken to manage the environmental impact of the scheme". He said: "Many residents and businesses will welcome the expansion of the A38 due to its potential to reduce journey times, improve connectivity, and drive economic growth. "Others will be rightly concerned about the loss of trees and the impact on Markeaton Park. I will be working with the project delivery teams as their work progresses to ensure mitigating steps are taken to manage the environmental impact - and to ensure this project supports better public transport, cycling and active travel." We send out the biggest stories in an email every day. Sign up for the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here.
Khaleej Times
29-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's Al Safa Street widening to cut commute, ease access to City Walk, Coca-Cola Arena
The Al Safa Street will be widened to cut down travel time on the corridor from 12 minutes to 3 minutes as part of a new road improvement project announced by Dubai's Raods and Transport Authority (RTA). The project will increase the number of lanes from three to four and have several elements including dedicated pedestrian walkways and cycling tracks, urban spaces that encourage community interaction, and landscaped areas. The scope of it will extend from the junction of Al Safa Street with Sheikh Zayed Road to the junction with Al Wasl Street, spanning more than 1,500 metres. "The project serves a vital district and is home to key landmarks such as City Walk, Coca-Cola Arena, educational institutions, residential and commercial areas, luxury hotels, and high-end restaurants,' said Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the RTA. 'It also enhances connectivity with Downtown Dubai and nearby developments along Financial Centre Street, an area inhabited by over one million residents.' Construction of bridges The project involves the construction of two bridges and two tunnels with a combined length of over 3,000 metres, along with the widening of roads and upgrades to intersections and traffic signal systems. Once complete, the the street's capacity will double from 6,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions. According to details revealed by the RTA, the first bridge will serve traffic coming from Al Wasl Street towards Sheikh Zayed Road and Financial Centre Street. It will have four lanes and span 1,005 metres, with an estimated capacity of 6,400 vehicles per hour. The second bridge, which will feature two lanes and extend 360 metres, will accommodate traffic coming from Al Satwa Road towards Sheikh Zayed Road and Financial Centre Street and have a capacity of 2,800 vehicles per hour. Two tunnels According to Al Tayer, the project will also includes the construction of two tunnels. 'The first tunnel will serve traffic coming from Sheikh Zayed Road and Financial Centre Street towards Al Wasl Street,' he said. 'It will span 1,005 metres, comprise two lanes, and offer a capacity of 3,200 vehicles per hour. The second tunnel will be located at the intersection of Al Wasl Street and Al Safa Street, extending 750 metres. It will feature two lanes in each direction, with a total capacity of approximately 6,400 vehicles per hour.' The project also involves widening Al Safa Street from three signalised lanes in each direction to four lanes — two providing free-flowing movement and two managed by traffic signals. Upon completion, the project will enhance traffic flow from the Upper Deck of Financial Centre Street and Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Safa Street and Al Wasl Street, and vice versa. Al Wasl Road project On June 3, the RTA announced an integrated infrastructure project spanning Umm Suqeim, Al Safa, and Al Wasl Streets. The development project includes: It covers Al Safa Street, upgrading six key intersections between Umm Suqeim and 2nd December Street — including Al Safa Street — with five tunnels totaling 3,850 m and widening to three lanes in each direction. The corridor stretches 15 km, from Umm Suqeim Street to 2nd December Street, aiming to boost capacity from 8,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour and halve travel times. It includes urban enhancements like pedestrian walkways, cycling tracks, boulevards, and vibrant public spaces—supporting Dubai's population growth and quality‑of‑life target
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The legacy of a £1.5bn A-road upgrade
For decades, a dual carriageway in Cambridgeshire was synonymous with slow-moving traffic, jack-knifed lorries and long, long delays. That changed in May 2020, when the new A14 opened ahead of schedule, a12-mile (19km) Cambridge to Huntingdon three-lane carriageway. More than five years after the £1.5bn road improvement scheme was completed, what do locals think - and what is its legacy? The BBC has been finding out. "Driving to Stansted Airport could potentially be a two-hour trip, just to get there for a pick-up or drop off - now it's a 45-minute journey," said Stuart Gibbons. The co-founder of Le Mark, a Huntingdon-based company, is a huge fan of the improvements. "We are a business that is rural, we're in a nice part of the county, but we need to get up and down the motorways when we need to," he said. The company produces tapes, custom-printed labels, professional dance floors and crew-wear for the entertainment industry, including TV, touring bans, theatre, stage and performance. It buys and sells internationally, which is why getting to Stansted Airport is so important. But Mr Gibbons can also confidently tell customers in north London that Le Mark can drop off items within an hour and a half. "The difference is we can make an appointment we are fairly certain we can meet," he said. Heidi Brown has been working for Le Mark for three years - and commuting along the A14 for much longer than that. The upgraded road has transformed her journey to work. "Historically, it was quite a lot of congestion, it wasn't the easiest of journeys - I'd often have to find alternative routes to work," the purchasing assistant said. "Now I can confidently leave knowing I can get to work and I don't have to allow more time in advance." Her colleague, social media content creator Charlotte Brooks, agreed, adding: "I'd hear [the old A14} a lot near our house, but it's a lot better now, much more quiet." "It's a hugely important bridge, the level of vehicles using this bridge is massive - from villages like Oakington, Cottenham, Longstanton and Willingham," said Luis Navarro. The newly elected Liberal Democrat county councillor has found himself negotiating with National Highways over settling embankments on land around the Bar Hill bridge at junction 25. The new layout there was part of the A14 project, but now locals are saying they feel a bump when they drive over it and Mr Navarro is "concerned it could become a hazard". "The technical term is the bridge is 'settling' and National Highways have now attached monitoring devices to it, to provide data on how fast or if the bridge is still settling," he said. "It's important we are on top of this issue... it's a major artery and the idea is we try to get a permanent solution to reassure drivers that it's safe." A National Highways spokesperson said it had been monitoring the bridge for more than a year, initially with inspections by engineers. "This has now been enhanced to include digital monitoring," they said. "This is part of a phased assessment process as we continue our work with Cambridgeshire County Council to determine the root cause and put an appropriate solution in place." About 270 hectares (670 acres) of habitat, including 40 native tree and shrub species, was created for wildlife along the new section of the A14, which realigned the dual carriageway south of Huntingdon. Locals say the tree screen will be vital to mitigate against noise from the road. However, National Highways said in 2022 about 20 to 30% of the trees had died, although all have been replanted. It has since planted another 165,000 trees and shrubs, 90% of which have survived. Vhari Russell, who founded the rewilding group Creating Nature's Corridors and with her family, lives close to the A14 in Brampton. They took matters into their own hands by planting their own trees. "What we're really lacking is the mulching and the watering and the nurturing and that wasn't done by National Highways," she said. Paul Salmon has been working on the latest National Highways infrastructure project in Cambridgeshire, from Caxton Gibbet to the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire, for more than three years. The £1bn A428 project includes a new 10-mile (16km) dual carriageway, as well as bridges and junctions connecting to the existing road. "Everyone locally knows about the Black Cat junction, it's infamous for multiple reasons and has been a pinch point - including the last single carriageway on this east-west corridor between Milton Keynes and Felixstowe," he said. "And we will move that traffic off the local road. "Currently it's about 35,000 vehicles on the A428 a day, and by the time the new road opens, it'll be down to about 3,000 a day." The agency and its partner Skanska have spent time working out "the good, the bad and the indifferent" of the A14 project, the senior project manager added. "For this project, we're top-soiling early, so it'll be green by the time the scheme opens," he said. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'Parts of A14 still like a desert after trees die' Residents plant own trees to replace dead A14 ones The multibillion-pound infrastructure set for the East of England National Highways
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Moor Farm roundabout on A19 in Northumberland needs upgrade, MP says
Government money needs to be spent to improve two busy roundabouts which are "past breaking point" due to traffic congestion, an MP has Cramlington and Killingworth MP Emma Foody used a Westminster Hall debate to call for the junctions on the A19 at Moor Farm and Seaton Burn to be of Roads Minister Lillian Greenwood accepted that congestion and delays around the roundabouts "need to be addressed", but she did not commit to improving the said new road enhancements would be "considered" as part of the future road investment strategy, which will start from 1 April. Department for Transport (DfT) figures show between 2021 and 2024 there has been an 87% increase in delays through the northbound A19 section of Moor Farm in Northumberland and a 36% rise southbound, with an increase of 31% at Seaton Burn, North Tyneside. This has led to more delays on the A1 for traffic joining Seaton Burn roundabout, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). Foody said businesses including Miller UK, Fergusons Transport, George Smith and Renolit UK had seen a negative effect due to delays on the roads."Right now the situation at Moor Farm and Seaton Burn acts as a blocker to growth, causing misery to residents and commuters and holding back investment," she said. Foody said earlier road investment strategies had seen upgrades made to roundabouts further south on the A19 at Silverlink and Tesco's."Surely, now is the time to finish the job and complete the junctions to the end of the A19 at Seaton Burn," she said."My area has seen significant housing developments in recent years. The result is that the roundabouts are past breaking point."Labour's Blyth and Ashington MP Ian Lavery joined the debate to say people were "frightened to use the Moor Farm roundabout" and claimed traffic would get worse once a large data centre is built in Cambois. In response, Greenwood said: "As part of last week's Spending Review, the government announced £24bn of capital funding between 2026 and 2030 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads across the country."That funding will allow National Highways and local authorities to deliver faster, safer and more reliable journeys. Already this year, north-east England has been provided with an extra £22m for local roads maintenance." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
