Drivers are set to benefit from easier transport links across the UK after Labour announced new investments in road infrastructure.
As part of the new support measures, 50 road and rail upgrades will be seen across England, backed by over £92billion in funding that will support 42,000 jobs and pave the way for 39,000 new homes.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the scheme today, describing transport as "the backbone of our economy" and promising to put "taxpayers' money where it matters most".
The investment forms part of the Government's Plan for Change, which aims to boost economic growth and build 1.5 million houses over the next five years.
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The M54 to M6 link road in Staffordshire has been approved by Labour
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Five strategic road schemes and five key rail upgrades have received Government funding, with rail enhancements set to connect 50,000 more people to the network.
The funding will help build the "long-awaited" A66 Northern Trans-Pennine route, which will cut journey times across the north and support over 10,000 new homes.
The M54 to M6 link road in Staffordshire has also been approved, aiming to reduce journey times and connect thousands to key economic hubs across the Midlands.
Meanwhile, Labour has also announced that it will fund the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island interchange in Greater Manchester, which could support 20,000 new jobs and 7,000 new homes if planning approval is granted.
The newly greenlit A66 Northern Trans-Pennine road project
NATIONAL HIGHWAYSOther schemes include the A38 Derby Junctions and the A46 Newark Bypass in Nottinghamshire, which could support thousands of new jobs and homes, subject to planning approval.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Transport is the backbone of our economy, which is why we are giving them the record funding boost they need, putting taxpayers' money where it matters most and making everyday journeys easier.
"We're delivering the schemes that fast-track economic growth and jobs, connect communities, and will help us build 1.5 million new homes, as we deliver our Plan for Change."
Chancellor Rachel Reeves explained that the investments "are long overdue" and will help transform local communities and improve living standards across the country.
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She noted that the investments were "only possible because we took the right decisions to stabilise our public finances and changed the fiscal rules so we can invest in Britain's renewal, grow the economy and put more money in working people's pockets".
However, Transport Action Network has criticised the A66 funding decision, with the scheme last costing £1.5billion in 2022.
TAN founder Chris Todd said: "This represents another setback for the Government's growth agenda. The only thing this will grow is more traffic and more HGVs on our roads, making them less safe."
The campaign group claimed that the scheme would emit nearly three million tonnes of carbon and result in the loss of 18,000 trees.
Funding has been allocated to the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island interchange in Greater Manchester
PA
According to TAN, investing the same money in low-cost road safety measures could save 10,000 lives and serious injuries across the country over 20 years, compared to 31 on the A66 alone.
The organisation also highlighted that National Highways' own figures showed how the scheme was a loss-making investment.
Todd added: "The Government needs to come clean and stop pretending it supports making our roads safer by moving freight onto rail. This is now the second major road scheme it has approved on major trade routes crying out for rail freight alternatives.
"The A66 will also undermine the Government’s own decarbonisation agenda, fuelling, flooding and extreme weather events. We cannot have any faith that nature will not be made to pay for this folly."
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