The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has welcomed the Government’s latest transport funding package, which includes support for several strategic road upgrades identified as critical to future housing delivery.
The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, M60/M62/M66 Simister Island, and A46 Newark Bypass projects have all received backing, alongside the M54 to M6 Link Road in Staffordshire and the A38 in Derby.
All were highlighted in the RHA’s Future of Roads report as priority routes to support housing and economic growth.
Richard Smith, managing director at the RHA, said: “The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island, and the A46 Newark Bypass ministers have earmarked for backing are key projects we identified as vital for our sector in our Future of Roads report.
“We have campaigned for them to be given funding and we are glad that the Government has listened.”
Smith added: “Improving our roads will unlock economic potential and drive growth across the country and are crucial for facilitating the Government’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
“They will be key for our sector to play its part to help them meet that target and keep new households supplied with the goods, infrastructure and services they will need.”
With congestion currently costing the UK an estimated £30.8bn annually, the RHA said it hoped the upcoming third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) would set out an ambitious long-term roadmap for infrastructure improvements.
This story first appeared in our sister title The Haulier.
