Mystery surrounds fate of £1.4bn road investment scheme Questions over major Osborne announcement

MYSTERY surrounds progress on a massive Government road-building scheme worth £1.4 billion in the Midlands which has yet to happen.

In December 2014 the Government made a high-profile announcement promising the “biggest upgrade to roads in a generation”, and pledging £15 billion by the end of the decade to increase the capacity. It said the Midlands would get “17 schemes worth £1.4 billion and estimated to create 900 jobs”.

The projects were announced as part of former Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement.

Two years on, just seven of the schemes have even reached a stage where the Department for Transport has confirmed what the cost will be.

And the total funding for these projects comes to £393 million, far less than the £1.4 billion originally promised.

Six of the projects listed have not yet been costed.

These include a major scheme to create a link between the M54, M6 and the M6 (Toll).

Details for planned upgrades of the M40, M42 and M5 to introduce more sections of “smart motorway”, have also still not been published.

Richard Burden, MP for Birmingham Northfield, said: “It has been less than a fortnight since Theresa May pledged to give the Midlands Engine the backing it needs but these revelations are another example that their words are wind.

“It is not news that in the past Highways England have publicly admitted they face real challenges on delivering the Government’s much-lauded Road Investment Programme, but given that nearly two years have passed since the 17-plus projects were announced, as far as I can see there’s still huge uncertainty over costs and timescale.

“It’s important the Government reaffirm their funding commitments or come clean on any cuts.”

Schemes where progress have been made include a major project to improve junction six of the M42 near Birmingham Airport, which will allow for better movement of traffic on and off the A45. This will make it easier to reach the airport and improve access to the planned HS2 high speed rail station.

The Highways Agency says this will cost £282 million and work is due to begin in 2019.