East End traffic scheme will start this month
A MAJOR Plymouth transport project is due to start this month after a £7million funding boost.
Plymouth City Council's £19million East End Transport Scheme has received the cash from the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA).
The £7million investment is the final funding required for the project, due to start within weeks.
The scheme is a key element of projects including the Sherford and Plymstock Quarry developments and a proposed employment site at Langage Energy and Business Park.
The East End transport project is the first phase of the £100million Eastern Corridor transport improvement scheme and involves major highway improvements aimed at relieving existing congestion and improving public transport.
The £7million has come from the RDA's Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
The scheme is also receiving £10million of funding from the government's Community Infrastructure Fund.
"This funding support from the South West RDA recognises the major benefits that the East End transport scheme will bring, both to the local community and the city as a whole," said Councillor Kevin Wigens, the city council's Cabinet member for transport.
"Improving transport links along this key route is crucial in supporting the wider growth of the city and making Plymouth a more attractive and competitive location for existing companies and inward investors," he said.
"It will also enhance the regeneration that has already taken place in the East End, and significantly improve the local area for residents."
Ian Piper, director of development and regeneration for the South West RDA, said: "This investment shows how we are supporting Plymouth's ambitions for growth, which are vital to the long-term economic future of the city and the wider region.
"The East End project is a critical element of Plymouth's wider transport strategy and will increase the capacity of the network, relieve congestion and associated environmental and social problems and will play an important role in helping deliver new homes, new jobs and a new high quality public transport link through the eastern corridor area."
3 Comments
by mike meynell, prince rock
Tuesday, June 01 2010, 6:16PM
“hmm. absolute chaos. these traffic diversions have been deliberately planned to cause the most disruption. i drive once a wk on a saturday, so will not affect me too much, but i have been out to look at the routes on the 1st day and it's terrible. i myself have studied what they're doing, and i have a much better plan for the road closures. i'd love to meet the person that came up with this scheme and find out their motives. i could point out their mistakes, and the improvements that could be made if this waste of council tax money must go ahead. oh, and my 1st hand experience of this? my local shop had their deliveries 3 hrs late today. in this economic climate businesses can't operate like that, and i'm speaking for all those trading on embankment road, and no i'm not one of them.
as i said at the start, these diversions have been deliberately designed to cause the most disruption, which is needless because i myself have a much better traffic management plan. why does the council repeatedly do things we don't need or want... and why do we let them... it's our council tax we pay, surely we have the right to decide how it is spent.”
by John, South Hams
Monday, March 22 2010, 10:21PM
“Has anyone actually read what is going to take place, and the disruption in the interim period? Combine this with the Mutley Plain gas works and there will be traffic mayhem. When completed, how will congestion be eased, except with a massive uptake in public, ie \bus, transport. This is going to create mayhem for years to come, and many more accidents. I suspect that in 2 to 3 years time much of this will be reversed. What is needed is a complete rethink and no doubt some realigning of roads in and out, maybe with some demolition of existing properties. The takings of shops in the city centre are going to plummet due to this new scheme.”
by Allan, Ivybridge
Friday, March 12 2010, 4:26PM
“Anything which relieves congestion and helps motorists actually get in and out of the city quicker has to be good news.”