The long and winding road
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The government has pledged to treble the amount of money it ploughs into major road schemes each year, but will it get the country's clogged transport network moving? Words: Pat Hagan
It's been billed as the biggest programme of investment in Britain's roads since the 1970s. Key details include creating another 221 miles of managed motorway lanes, making hard shoulders available to traffic during peak times, and a commitment to building Highways Agency projects in the most congested parts of the UK, including along the A14 from Cambridge to Huntingdon and the M4 from London to Reading. In addition, feasibility studies will look for solutions to
notorious bottlenecks, such as the A303 to the South West, the Al north of Newcastle and the trans-Pennine routes between Sheffield and Manchester.
More dual carriageways will be built and £6bn will be set aside for local authorities to repair roads, with another £4bn allocated to the Highways Agency for resurfacing.
Providing the current government remains in power to see the plans through to the target date of 2020, it all makes for positive reading. But what do the members of CM's Operator panel think? • I •-r.ter e.n-1 John Bell Transport manager Huntapac Produce Preston, Lancashire
Bell fears the number of projects the extra money could be spent on will eclipse the amount actually available.
Bell fears the number of projects the extra money could be spent on will eclipse the amount actually available.
"Everyone has their own favourite hotspot," he says. "We have to go down lots of country lanes from here to get to the motorway and they are in an absolutely shocking state.
"But there's no doubt we also need more bypasses and some of the motorways definitely need widening in parts.
"In this part of the world, the M6 needs a lot of improvements, especially between junctions 20 and 15 going south, where the traffic is solid every morning."
Bell thinks extending the use of hard shoulders during peak times is a step in the right direction. "I've seen it on the M42 and it works well. There's certainly a lot less queuing, and if you're going to the NEC in Birmingham, you tend to get there a lot quicker." Charles Burke Owner-driver, TRS Engineering Rhondda Valley
Burke agrees major investment in the country's road network is long overdue. "You cannot have an ever-increasing population, an ever-increasing food supply and everincreasing demand for utilities without increased road capacity to match," he says.
"There will never be enough money to satisfy everyone. The question is: will there be a proper strategy in place to make it work? This is definitely a step in the right direction, because road maintenance is crucial to the economy." John Hunt Driver, Brian Palmer Haulage
Mendlesham, Suffolk The A14 definitely needs improving, says Hunt, but at the western end where it links up with the M1 and the M6 in Leicestershire.
Mendlesham, Suffolk The A14 definitely needs improving, says Hunt, but at the western end where it links up with the M1 and the M6 in Leicestershire.
"There's always a bottleneck there," he says. "It's purely down to the way it's designed. I don't think they ever imagined there would be that volume of traffic.
"But there's only so much money you can realistically spend. It's something of a bottomless pit."
Hunt agrees that using hard shoulders can ease the pressure on congested motorways and are a suitable "quick fix".
He adds: "Any investment is welcome, providing it's used on the right projects." Paul Arthurton Owner, Paul Arthurton Transport Norfolk
Arthurton is quite appalled at the state of some of the country's roads.
"I know we've had a couple of bad winters, but recently I've been really surprised at the state of some major trunk roads," he says. "On the Al 1, there's been a 50mph speed limit in parts for the past two or three months due to damaged road surfaces. "Britain's roads are over capacity and not
maintained as well as they should be, so I think any new spending is very welcome, not least because it creates jobs and demand for materials which we deliver. But it needs to be part of a more general investment across all forms of transport. And that's where things have gone wrong in the past—there's been a lack of joined-up thinking." Ed Pargeter Director, EP Training Leatherhead, Surrey
"I use the M25 regularly," says Pargeter, "and most of the time you just never know if you're going to make your appointment on time.
"I use the M25 regularly," says Pargeter, "and most of the time you just never know if you're going to make your appointment on time.
"Now the schools are shut it's not a problem. It seems many people just use it as a short cut to get to places."
Pargeter welcomes plans to invest in road improvements but, like other panel members, fears the government simply doesn't have the resources needed to really change things. "One thing that might help is if they do bring
in road user charges for foreign trucks; that could be a great help. Otherwise I think they're going to have to introduce more tolls to restrict road usage." Martin Barnes Project manager, Charles Gee and Co East Huntspill, Somerset
"It's good news — but 25 years overdue," is Barnes' verdict on the planned investment.
Barnes agrees that in his neck of the woods the A303 should be a priority. It's a notorious bottleneck throughout much of the year, made worse by legions of holidaymakers heading to the South West during school holidays.
The most important thing, he says, is long-term planning when it comes to deciding how to spend the money.
"It's no use looking at the next two to three years, they've got to plan 15, 20 or even 25 years ahead," he says. "It's short-term thinking that has brought us to this point.
"For example, it may turn out that we don't need to build new roads, or upgrade many. Just by getting rid of badly designed junctions, or roundabouts that are there for no real reason, it might be possible to make some major improvements.
"As for using hard shoulders more, bring it on. It works very well and all it needs is a bit of resurfacing." PANEL VERDICT • Government plans for road investment are long overdue • Widening motorways and improving junctions will help • Extended use of the hard shoulder during peak times is an excellent quick fix • There also needs to be a long-term strategy and more joined-up thinking from planners