Three Managed Motorway projects and one road upgrade will be delivered sooner than previously thought after the Transport Secretary announced an intention to cut the time taken to deliver future highway improvements. Overall £75M will be brought forward.

Schemes on the M1, M3 and M6 will now be completed by spring 2015, rather than during the following financial year as had previously been the aim.

In all 115km of route will be fast tracked, including a conventional road upgrade to the A160 and A180 on the approach to the Port of Immingham. Schemes will be delivered more quickly by carrying out planning, design and construction preparation activities concurrently, through greater use of off site pre fabrication and with work taking place through the night.

Patrick McLoughlin said: “I am determined to cut the time it takes to upgrade our roads by half by dismantling procedures that have slowed us down. My ambition is that in future all major road schemes will be accelerated, tackling congestion more quickly and boosting the economy.”

On Managed Motorway schemes it is hoped that 1km of route can be upgraded every two weeks rather than four. Traditional capacity upgrades on non motorway routes such as on the approach to Immingham will be delivered up to a quarter more quickly.

The M1 upgrade will take place between junctions 28 (Mansfield) and 31 (Sheffield). Improvements to the M3 will take place between junction two (the M25) and 4a (Fleet). Upgrade of the M6 will be between junctions 10a (Wolverhampton) and 13 (Stafford).

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