Improved London sign plan shelved
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• The Highways Agency has shelved a £20m project to improve road signs in London, despite initial boasts that it would save hauliers and businesses £35m as a result.
The "London primary route re-signing project" was introduced by former Transport Minister Steven Norris at the beginning of this year after a survey revealed that two-thirds of signs in the capital were either inaccurate or illegible. The project would have involved updating 10,000 signs. It was put out to tender and work was due to start next month.
But the Highways Agency has postponed the plans because of what it calls "uncertainty about funding next year". The decision has been attacked by the British Road Federation which says improved road signs would have saved money and lives by reducing indecision among drivers. "Road users in London pay 42.6bn in taxes, but they are seeing less and less for their money," says BRF spokesman Mark Glover.
A spokesman for the Highways Agency said the scheme hadn't been abandoned completely and could be re-ten dered in the next financial year.