2019-09-30 15:02
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid is set to reveal details of the government’s £25 billion road investment strategy, promising significant investment in roads, buses, and the 5G mobile network that is essential for any self-driving cars that may arrive in the future.
Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference later today, Javid will announce that the fund – originally set aside by his predecessor Philip Hammond as part of the RIS 2 (Road Investment Strategy 2 fund), – will, in part, be used to upgrade 14 of England’s major roads, according to the BBC.
• All ministerial cars to be electric by 2030
The process of making the A66 Trans-Pennine expressway and A46 Newark bypass into dual carriageways will be completed, while upgrades to the Simister Island interchange in Manchester will also be carried out.
Construction will also commence on the A428 to improve journeys between Cambridge and Milton Keynes, while the A12 in east England will be widened.
A large part of the investment – around £5 billion – is set to be dedicated to supporting the rollout of 5G, which will be used in connected and autonomous vehicles.
In addition £220 million to be spent on improving bus services in England, along with £50 million of funding to create the UK’s first all-electric bus town or city.
These plans will include having contactless payment methods available on all city buses, as well as the creation of a superbus network, with local authorities investing in bus lanes in exchange for a higher rate of service from operators. This scheme will be trialled in Cornwall in 2020.
“Investment in our infrastructure will be key to making the next decade one of renewal – boosting our economy and making life easier for people all across the country,” Javid is expected to say.
“The full benefits of our infrastructure revolution may not be felt for some time. But the work must start here and now.”
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