New road upgrades are planned in the UK to reduce congestion and improve safety for vehicle drivers. Upgrades will be carried out to the A1 west of the city of Newcastle, the A12 in Essex to the east of capital London and the M62 motorway that connects the cities of Manchester and Leeds. Studies will be carried out first to identify the needs for other routes forming the country’s strategic road network. The necessary strategy will be produced for all routes in the second quarter of 2014, allowing a network-wide assessment of problems and challenges and an overview of the steps needed to be taken to address problems. The study will also be used to prioritise solutions to be delivered during the next spending review period and beyond. An evidence based approach to assessing challenges on a network-wide basis will allow the 2309 Highways Agency and the 5432 Department for Transport to prioritise operational, maintenance and if appropriate, road improvement schemes, helping to inform investment plans for the next full spending review in 2015.
Meanwhile work on a new link road will go ahead in Taunton after receiving final approval. The work is needed to improve east-west connections across Taunton and open up access to new development. The scheme will see Somerset County Council construct a new road linking Staplegrove Road in the west of the town to Priory Avenue in the east. The work involves the construction of 1.6km of new carriageway and the realignment of a further 150m of existing carriageway. It also includes construction of a new bridge over the River Tone and the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, the replacement of a former rail bridge, the replacement of and existing footbridge and provision of pedestrian and cycle facilities. Other works include a new roundabout at the junction of Staplegrove Road and Chip Lane and modifications to the existing roundabout at the junction of Priory Avenue and Priory Fields.
Meanwhile work on a new link road will go ahead in Taunton after receiving final approval. The work is needed to improve east-west connections across Taunton and open up access to new development. The scheme will see Somerset County Council construct a new road linking Staplegrove Road in the west of the town to Priory Avenue in the east. The work involves the construction of 1.6km of new carriageway and the realignment of a further 150m of existing carriageway. It also includes construction of a new bridge over the River Tone and the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, the replacement of a former rail bridge, the replacement of and existing footbridge and provision of pedestrian and cycle facilities. Other works include a new roundabout at the junction of Staplegrove Road and Chip Lane and modifications to the existing roundabout at the junction of Priory Avenue and Priory Fields.
