East of England to receive £2 million A road route boost

A number of major A roads in the East of England are to benefit from £2 million in funding for cycling infrastructure improvements.

Following the award of a £2.1 million contract to Geoffrey Osborne Ltd by Highways England, upgrades will take place on routes including the A12, A120, A47, and the A5.

The project is part of a £100m national strategy to offer greater accessibility to England’s major roads and a more cycle-friendly network.

Cycling Minister Robert Goodwill said: "These new routes will transform cycling journeys along busy routes in the East of England. The safe and accessible cycle paths and crossing points are an important step in encouraging more people to use their bicycles to get around the region for work, visiting family and friends or for exercise.

“Highways England’s improvements on the strategic road network will form part of the government’s £300m investment over the next five years to support a cycling revolution across this country."

Developments already planned in include:

• 2 improved routes in Essex: along the A12 from Witham to Marks Tey; at A120 Parkeston Roundabout in Harwich
• 1 new and 1 improved route in Norfolk: at A12 Harfreys Roundabout in Great Yarmouth; along the A47 from Hockering to North Tuddenham
• Significant improvements at several locations along the A12 in Lowestoft, Suffolk
• Bedfordshire: improvements to an existing route on the A5, Dunstable High Street; removal of a section of cycle lane on the A5 at Chalk Hill, which doesn’t meet current local authority standards.

Highways England’s full delivery plan for the next five years can be found here. Meanwhile a funding table for the five year period running to 2020 can be found below: