In its response to the targeted consultation, CIHT opposes the overall funding reduction and the potential cancellation of the A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark Bypass schemes.

CIHT recognises the increasingly challenging international environment and the Government’s need to strengthen national defence capabilities. However, its response argues that investment in transport infrastructure should not be viewed as competing with defence expenditure.

A reliable and resilient transport network is itself a strategic national asset. It supports economic security, military mobility, supply chains, access to employment and services, and the economic growth required to fund national priorities over the longer term

An evidence-led approach to investment decisions

CIHT is calling for the proposed reductions to be assessed against their full economic, social, environmental and security consequences before a final decision is reached.

The response highlights the importance of considering:

• The effect of reductions on road safety, including National Programmes and Designated Funds
• The consequences of cancelling schemes after substantial planning, consenting and development work
• The effect of uncertainty on specialist skills and the infrastructure supply chain
• The implications for regional connectivity, freight, housing and employment growth
• The strategic importance, economic benefits, safety contribution and deliverability of individual schemes

Where construction cannot proceed during the present funding period, CIHT recommends examining whether schemes can remain within the investment pipeline rather than being cancelled outright. This would help preserve previous work and provide greater certainty about future investment.

Maintenance must remain a priority

CIHT agrees that maintenance and renewals should remain a high priority. Maintaining roads, bridges, structures and associated infrastructure in a safe, reliable and resilient condition is essential. Timely maintenance can also help avoid higher future costs by addressing deterioration before more disruptive or expensive interventions are required.

However, CIHT cautions against treating maintenance and enhancement as mutually exclusive. While maintaining the existing network is essential, improvements may also be required to address major bottlenecks affecting safety, reliability, freight movement, connectivity, housing and economic growth.

CIHT is therefore calling for a balanced investment portfolio that protects safety-critical maintenance while retaining enhancement schemes where there is a strong and evidenced strategic case. Priorities should be based on asset condition, risk, need, scheme maturity and deliverability.

Transparent priorities for RIS3

CIHT recommends that decisions should be guided by safety, network resilience and reliability, economic and security contribution, connectivity, housing and employment growth, environmental consequences, deliverability and value for money.

The criteria, evidence and trade-offs used to make these decisions should be published. This would allow infrastructure owners, local and regional partners, the supply chain and affected communities to understand why particular investments have been protected, delayed or cancelled.

A38 and A46 schemes

The response provides evidence on the wider strategic significance of the A46 Newark Bypass and A38 Derby Junctions schemes.

Evidence submitted to CIHT by Leicestershire County Council states that the A46 scheme would prevent an estimated 1,875 casualties over its appraisal period, deliver approximately 89.9 million person-hours of journey-time savings and support around 9,610 homes and employment growth. CIHT states that the Department should verify this evidence against the underlying scheme appraisal before relying upon it in its final decision.

The A38 Derby Junctions scheme is intended to address congestion, safety and reliability issues at the Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton junctions. CIHT’s response identifies the corridor’s importance for connections across the Midlands and to the M1, A50, M42, M6, East Midlands Airport and East Midlands Freeport. It also highlights the concentration of advanced manufacturing, engineering, aerospace and logistics activity served by the route.

CIHT recommends that comparable evidence for both schemes should be published or updated, covering safety, congestion, journey-time reliability, freight connectivity, housing and employment dependencies, carbon and environmental impacts, expenditure already incurred and the consequences of cancellation or postponement.

CIHT’s response concludes that modern roads, bridges and transport networks support economic growth, community resilience, connectivity and national security. Decisions on RIS3 should therefore take account of these wider strategic benefits before planned investment is reduced.

To read the full response see here.

Picture of highways