Road improvement schemes get green light

27/03/2008 11:05:43

The government has approved a £1.19 billion private finance initiative (PFI) designed to improve roads in Hounslow, Sheffield and the Isle of Wight over the next 25 years.

Hounslow, north-west London, will receive £198 million in PFI credits to pay for construction work on around 450 kilometres of roads in the borough.

Isle of Wight Council will be given £325 million for improvements on 800 kilometres of roads, while authorities in Sheffield will be able to spend £663.8 million on improvements for 1,950 kilometres of highways.

All three funding packages also include money for street light improvements.

Transport minister Rosie Winterton commented: "Better quality roads mean safer and quicker journeys for local people - this new funding will benefit all road users, whether they are motorists, bus users, pedestrians or cyclists.

"I am very pleased that local authorities around the country are using PFI arrangements to deliver these improvements."

John Mothersole, the interim chief executive of Sheffield City Council, commented: "This is the start of a huge citywide programme to improve the city's highways.

"Once complete, we will have a highways network that compares with all the other incredible investment in Sheffield's regeneration that has taken place in recent years."

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