Councils Share £170m In Local Road Improvements

3 June 2013, 06:00

Some of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire's biggest congestion hot-spots are to get government cash to make sure they're completed.

Council highway departments are getting a share of £170m to improve areas suffering the worst traffic problems - including the Bedford western bypass and a new link-road to a proposed motorway junction north of Luton and Dunstable.

Ian Stewart, the MP for Milton Keynes South says one project, making the A421 into a dual carriageway all the way to the M1 at j13,  will have a bigger impact than just a smoother journey for drivers: "It will improve traffic flow in the area and I think it will also be important for the local economy because Milton Keynes attracts a lot of logistics and distribution companies particularly at the Magna Park area so I think that will be an additional selling point."

THE SCHEMES WITH APPROVED FUNDING

• BEDFORD Western Bypass Northern Section. A 2km single carriageway road linking the A428 at Bromham with the A6 north of Bedford. Work is expected to start in March 2014 and be completed in Sept 2015.
• HOUGHTON REGIS Woodside Link. A 3.3km road running north east from the junction of Park Road North, Poynters Road and Porz Avenue in Houghton Regis to the proposed M1 Junction 11A which will be constructed as part of the A5-M1 Link Road. Work is expected to start in May 2014 and be completed in June 2017.
• MILTON KEYNES A421 Fen Farm to Eagle Farm Pinch Point Bid. Upgrade of a section of the existing A421 single carriageway serving the eastern approach to Milton Keynes from M1 J13. Work is expected to start in April 2014 and be completed in April 2015.
• MILTON KEYNES Kingston Roundabout Pinch Point Bid. An enlarged signalised junction and widening of the stop lines to accommodate three lanes to ease congestion. Work is expected to start and be completed in April 2014.