Pledge on projects by new minister
THE new transport secretary has vowed to plough ahead with rail and road projects around Greater Manchester during a visit to the £229m A6 Manchester Airport relief road.
Chris Grayling gave a reassurance that it was ‘business as usual’ for the post-Brexit Northern Powerhouse.
The site consists of a huge crater dug into the earth – but Mr Grayling promised transport projects in the north would not go to ground.
He said: “I didn’t become transport secretary to start cancelling projects, this is all about continuing to invest in the infrastructure of the north. This country is open for business, with an economy that works for everyone and can take us forward as a nation.”
He said the government were committed to making HS2 happen - and said there was a ‘strong pipe- line’ of projects for years to come.
Speaking after a meeting with Transport for the North, the body in charge of driving major transport projects in the region, he said they had discussed HS3 – east-west rail links – as an ‘important part of the future’ and that planning work was ongoing.
Asked if there would be any chance of major projects like electrification, the smart motorway to Leeds and a tunnel to Sheffield being sped up, he added: “I don’t want to raise false expectations after three weeks in the job, I am not going to give commitments to accelerate projects but I don’t want to delay them more than is necessary.
“We will do everything we can to make sure we do the right job for the country.”
He added: “I’m interested in doing everything I can to continue the transport improvements we’ve seen in Manchester in the last few years.
“We’re very proud of what’s happened with electrification of the railway, extension of Metrolink and projects like this one. We’ve made a big difference and we want that to continue. I see a modern and developing infrastructure as an important part of us saying to the world that Britain is very much open for business.”
The A6 relief road is aimed at boosting access to Manchester Airport, easing traffic problems around Stockport and helping the economy.