A big step forward
Page 17
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The Trunk road programme for the next decade which was announced by Mr Peter Walker on Wednesday is an en ened and objective piece of planning which goes a long way 10 implementing the election pledges of his Party. When schemes for Wales and Scotland and for urban roads are announced later this year we shall have a very full picture of Britain's highway developments for the next. 10 years and beyond.
Even the initial programme promises a great fillip for road transport, and is a valuable guide for transport and distribunon planners. In this connection it is significant that at his Press cbnference on Wednesday Mr Walker was adamant that distribution warehousing potential was riot being fully used, and he spoke hopefully of the new powers for siting depots alongside motorways. The industry has mixed feelings about this.
We shall soon have 1,000 miles of motorways and a similar mileage of dual-carriageway trunk roads in England and Wales. By spending £2,900m. this is to be increased to 2,000 miles of motorways and 1,500 miles of high-standard trunk roads by the early 1980s. Transport operators will applaud
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he stated aims of the new programme—listed overleaf: :hey will be only too happy to have their vehicles diverted past the historic towns which the Government wishes to bypass for environmental reasons: they will welcome with relief the link roads to the ports: and they will appreciate the emphasis on promoting economic growth through a good major road network. No doubt there are gaps in the scheme which some will regret, but overall it is a most heartening development —vvhose.proper exploitation places a great responsibility on transport operators.