Transport secretary visits the north west
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is visiting transport improvements in the north west.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will visit Lancashire today (26 February 2015) to see how transport improvements are benefiting the region. He will tour the construction site of a new link road off the M6, which will increase connectivity between Heysham and the surrounding area, creating more job opportunities and driving economic growth.
Patrick McLoughlin said:
Transport is absolutely key to ensuring our economy thrives. We are investing £800 million in 9 new roads schemes for the north west of England, in addition to the £110 million being spent on this vital new link off the M6.
Our £15 billion road investment strategy is the first of its kind and part of this government’s long term economic term plan to help people get about their daily business.
Other schemes in the north west include:
- improvements to the trans-pennine route, including a bypass for the village of Mottram in Greater Manchester
- upgrade of the A5036 Princess Way, which links Liverpool’s ports to the motorway network, helping to strengthen Liverpool’s status as an important global port
- upgrade of the M53 to a smart motorway which will help to ease journeys into Birkenhead and support new housing and office space at the Wirral Waters development
- further investment on the southern access to Manchester, joining up previously announced schemes to provide better access to the city and to Manchester airport.
The road schemes planned for the north west will create an estimated 600 construction jobs, as well as improving connectivity across the region. The M6 link road is due to be completed in June 2016.
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