£7 million to improve journeys and ease traffic delays

Highways England is investing more than £7 million in a series of schemes that will improve journeys, generate jobs and help unlock plans to build homes.

The investment, deriving from Highways England’s Growth and Housing Fund budget, includes nearly £4 million for junction improvement schemes around the A45 in Northamptonshire, almost £3 million for junction improvement schemes around the M42 and M5 in Worcestershire and nearly £620,000 at Moor Lane Roundabout in Exeter.

The funding is predominantly aimed at helping local communities unlock plans for future housing, with the work in Northamptonshire set to support a further 14,500 homes in the wider area and create some 3,000 jobs.

Ian Parsons, Highways England’s senior investment planning manager, said: “Our roads are vital for the country and its economic success; they connect businesses and communities and support employment and new homes. All of our improvements will ultimately ensure our roads continue to improve journeys and unlock the potential for new jobs and homes.”

Ian Morris, Northamptonshire County Council cabinet member for transport, highways and environment, said: “These are very important works for Northampton and the county as a whole as the infrastructure improvements to these busy parts of the road network will help accommodate housing development. This goes to show how good partnership working can be instrumental in bringing the improvements required that benefit the local economy.”