Motorists frustrated by roadworks on the strategic network could be set for some respite after Highways England revealed plans to reshuffle a number of its upcoming schemes to minimise disruption.

 

The organisation has updated its £15Bn Road Investment Strategy with 16 schemes being delayed and a further 10 brought forward to ‘smooth the timing and frequency of roadworks’.

 

It is also considering raising the speed limit through motorway roadworks from 50 to 55 or 60MPH to improve traffic throughput following a series of recent trials including on the A1 Leeming to Barton scheme. It is thought that higher limits could come into effect on many new schemes from this year, where they can be introduced safely.

 

Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan explained the reasoning behind the project reshuffle to TP Weekly News. “We noted that there were a number of areas and routes where we were going to be starting several schemes at the same time,” he said.

 

One such route was the A47, where he pointed out motorists might have had to travel through seven different sets of roadworks under the original plans. He added: “For the supply chain as well that would mean skills spread across various different sites, but it makes more sense to finish one and move onto the next.”

 

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding commented: “While motorists stuck in jams crave the extra road capacity that was promised they wouldn’t want the short term price to be a surfeit of schemes running in parallel and paralysing the network.”

 

Jim O’Sullivan said the 26 revised schemes will still be delivered as part of the Government’s first Road Investment Strategy, and most should be completed within the original envisaged timescales for the strategy.

 

The schemes that have been delayed, he explained, are mainly those that are more complex, higher risk or have to go through the most challenging development consent orders. It is hoped that better value for money can be achieved on these projects by taking the extra time to develop them.

 

On the other hand the schemes that are being brought forward tend to be those that “had an urgent need to be started” or are shovel ready.

 

In addition to the 26 reshuffled projects, six have been paused for further review by the Department for Transport after they failed to meet Highways England’s required benefit-cost ratio threshold. Two further schemes that require reworking will move into RIS 2.

 

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling commented: “This re-profiling and optimisation of delivery is consistent with Highways England’s remit and does not involve any cancellation of schemes, so the regions of England can expect continued and similar levels of road investment.”

 

The 10 schemes being brought forward by Highways England are:

The 16 schemes being pushed back are:

The six schemes paused for further review and consideration are:

The two to be reworked and progressed within Road Period 2 are:

 

(Photo: Alastair Lloyd)