£60m offer for A12, but with a catch

5:05pm Thursday 4th December 2008

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Cutting-edge technology worth £60 million has been offered to help end motorists’ misery on the A12.

But the cash will only be forthcoming if the region stumps up an identical sum to fund its own congestion-cutting and safety improvements on the 54-mile route through Essex – money which may not be forthcoming.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has announced a technology package, including variable message signs warning of accidents and upcoming congestion, along with automatic detection sensors embedded in the road surface to allow the Highways Agency to identify incidents more quickly.

He said: “With this new package of technology in place, the Highways Agency’s regional control centre would be able to identify incidents more quickly, deploy appropriate emergency service response, and relay tactical and strategic advice to road users who can still change their travel plans.”

The announcement was welcomed by the East of England Development Agency and Essex County Council, whose leader Lord Hanningfield also praised the Government for designating the A12 corridor, consisting of road and rail, a route of national strategic importance.

The council has conducted its own major inquiry into ways of improving the A12.

“Our efforts on behalf of motorists and businesses in Essex and East Anglia to bring the A12 to national attention are bearing fruit, and we will continue to work with the Government to achieve the improvements to the A12 which will prevent the misery and congestion that is currently so often a feature of the road,” said Lord Hanningfield.

But the scheme’s approval is dependent on whether members of the East of England Regional Assembly vote to spend at least £60m-worth of schemes on the A12 over the next decade at a meeting in January.

An assembly spokesman said there would be a “tight funding round”, with bids made to improve roads across the region and only a limited amount of money available.

* Braintree MP Brooks Newmark wants a Government minister to cancel a 50 per cent increase in the Dartford River Crossing toll.

He has challenged Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to explain why the charge rose so dramatically, as part of a campaign against toll increases by the Essex Federation of Small Businesses.