Millions To Be Spent On Hampshire's Roads

£160 million is set to be spent improving roads and transport across Hampshire in the next three years.

An investment programme of planned roads maintenance and transport infrastructure improvement schemes has been revealed by the County Council, subject to approval on 21 February 2013.

Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council said: “It is important to point out that, subject to agreement by the County Council, this programme of investment would be additional to any Government funding for specific transport schemes that  the Council might win in 2013-14.  We have won a number of funding bids during the past year, based on our ability to provide a sound evidence base and real examples of major scheme delivery. It will be important to ensure we build on this to secure further central Government funding for investment in Hampshire’s transport infrastructure.  With plans for Government to devolve further transport funding to Local Transport Boards from 2014-15 onwards, we hope to expand our investment programme further over the next few years.”

The money has come after successful bids for the Government funding.

Almost two thirds of the budget is proposed for structural maintenance of highways and bridges.  This includes Operation Resilience, the County Council’s long term strategy to improve the condition of Hampshire’s roads so that they are more resilient and able to withstand the effects of extreme weather and rising volumes of traffic.

Major highways improvement schemes totalling £9.9million have been included in the programme over the next two years for Newgate Lane in Gosport, Black Dam roundabout in Basingstoke and Leigh Road/Passfield Avenue in Eastleigh. A further £14million is proposed in 2015/16.

On top of that £8.5million will be spent across Hampshire on schemes designed to make it easier for people to walk and cycle, and encourage us to be less reliant on our cars.

The proposed programme will be considered for recommendation to the Cabinet by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport on 22 January 2013.  The Leader and Cabinet, in turn, will consider the proposals and make final recommendations to the County Council on 21 February 2013.