Kent roads decision
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III Transport ministers are deciding whether to approve £900m-worth of road building and maintenance in Kent.
Roads Minister Lord Whitty will announce whether they are to give the green light to the construction of three major roads, a bypass and the maintenance contract for the whole of Kent, within the next few weeks.
The three road contracts comprise the £79m WadeQueenborough improvement, the 238m A2/A282 Dartford upgrade and the 235m A2 Bean-Cobham development. Lamberhurst on the A21 will be bypassed and 225m a year will be provided from government coffers for maintenance, It is understood that all the work is to be awarded to a single private consortium that will be responsible for the overall 30-year design, build, finance and operate package.
The private/public project will signify a seachange in policy. and will be the first project of its kind since the government cancelled six in 1997.