Member Article

40 North West infrastructure projects to be started this year

The government has announced that 40 major infrastructure projects are due to start in the North West this year.

Construction work will begin on more than 200 rail, road, local transport, flood defence, broadband, airport infrastructure and waste management projects across Great Britain in 2014/2015. More than 200 major projects are also due to be completed this year, including 45 in the North West.

The schemes due to start construction this year are part of a £36 billion planned investment, which is made up of £5 billion from the public sector, £21 billion from the private sector and £10 billion from joint public and private investment.

They include the Mersey Gateway, which will see the construction of a new six-lane suspension bridge over the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes. Work on the £589 million project is due to start this month, with the government contributing £215 million towards the scheme.

The national schemes are expected to support over 150,000 jobs in construction and many thousands more in other sectors following completion. This includes the start of a £38 billion programme of rail spending over the next five years.

The £600 million ‘Northern Hub’ rail project began last month and includes electrification, new platforms, additional track and upgraded stations across the North.

The investment will increase the capability of the network between Manchester and other major towns and cities, providing space for 700 extra trains every day and 44 million more passengers a year.

The wider economic benefits are estimated at over £4 billion to the region, with the potential to create between 20,000 and 30,000 jobs. The project is due to be completed by the end of 2018.

The Prime Minister said: “Ensuring Britain has first class infrastructure is a crucial part of our long term economic plan: supporting business, creating jobs and providing a better future for hardworking people.

“This Government is backing business with better infrastructure so that more jobs and opportunities are created for hardworking people, meaning more financial security and peace of mind for families.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .