Council welcomes road funding bid
05 Aug 2019 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
The County Council has welcomed a decision by Transport for the North (TfN) to put forward a funding bid to government for the proposed Blyth Relief Road.
It follows the Chancellor’s Autumn 2018 statement, when he announced there would be £3.5 billion in funding over the period 2020-2025, set aside for Major Road Network (MRN) projects.
TfN was tasked with coordinating bids from the North of England and the Blyth Relief Road is one of 16 projects to be put forward for funding consideration. The Department for Transport will make the final decision on each scheme in a few months time.
More information about the scheme is available at www.northumberland.gov.uk/blythroad
Earlier this summer, following widespread consultation, councillors have confirmed the preferred route for the Relief Road - which would stretch from Princess Louise Road to the A189 ‘Three Horseshoes’ roundabout.
Construction on the £22m scheme could start in March 2023 and be open to traffic a year later. Up to 85% of the funding could come from the Department for Transport, with the remainder from the council.
The ambitious scheme would alleviate increasing traffic problems for vehicles entering and leaving Blyth which have got steadily worse over recent years.
Council Leader Peter Jackson said: “We’re delighted to have the backing of Transport for the North for this major infrastructure project.
“Blyth is an economic powerhouse but to maximise its potential we need to have the right infrastructure in place. This is another boost towards our ambitions for this scheme.”
Peter Molyneux, Major Roads Director at Transport for the North, said: “As part of our pan-Northern bid for £700 million of investment in our roads, we’re pleased to put forward for funding the Blyth Relief Road scheme, working in partnership with Northumberland County Council as well as both North East and North of Tyne Combined Authorities.
“Investment in this economically important East-West road will have a significant impact on capacity, thereby improving journey times and reliability. It will open up access to nearby employment areas and proposed new rail stations.
“This bid for funding is about more than just creating a new road – it is about better connecting people to the homes and jobs they want and enabling local businesses to realise their potential.”