Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Wednesday, 9 July, 2003, 13:16 GMT 14:16 UK
New �7bn transport plans
M1 motorway
The M1 is to be widened from London to Milton Keynes
Proposals to widen motorways across the east of England form part of the government's �7bn transport package.

On Wednesday, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced details of its road and rail plans following a year-long feasibility study.

The proposals include extra lanes on the M1 from London to Milton Keynes, on the M25, A12 from London to Ipswich, and A120.

But plans to fully dual the A47 from Norwich to Peterborough have been rejected.

In detail Wednesday's schemes include:

  • The widening of the M1 between the M25 and Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire to four lanes at a cost of �623m

  • A �246m package of improvements to the A12 corridor, including the upgrade of the A12 to dual three lanes between the M25 and Chelmsford in Essex

    Traffic jams
    The plans will aim to cut congestion

  • Dualling the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey in Essex at a cost of �203m

  • Dunstable Northern Bypass linking the A5 to M1 in Bedfordshire - �48m

  • Dualling eight miles of the A421 between the M1 and Bedford - �171m

  • Plans to widen most of the remaining three-lane sections of London's orbital M25 to four lanes with �1.7bn investment over the next decade

  • Plans to widen the M11 north of London between junctions 8 and 9 - �171m

  • Capacity improvements to the M1, M18, M62.

    On the railways, new services Bedford and Oxford are being brought forward, as well as new services to Heathrow.

    But the Department for Transport has rejected a new rail services between Bedford and Northampton at this stage.

    Mr Darling said on Wednesday: "The M1 and the A12 are important transport corridors. Improvements announced will make journey times more reliable and the motorway safer by reducing congestion and accidents."

    But the plans have been criticised by the environment group the CPRE which said the proposals "threaten large areas of countryside".


  • SEE ALSO:
    Thousands caught speeding
    26 Jun 03  |  Beds/Bucks/Herts
    New plan to improve M1 junction
    05 Feb 03  |  England


    RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


    PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

    News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
    UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
    Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
    AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific