Road schemes on hold

Some 100 road schemes have been placed on hold as the result of a major review of the roads programme ordered by the Government.

The extent of the review means that only 13 schemes in the trunk road programme now survive to construction stage.

Among the schemes that have been halted are the controversial Salisbury Bypass in Wiltshire and the Manchester Airport Link West. The Highways Agency confirmed that no further contracts are being put out to tender while the terms of the review have yet to be announced.

A spokeswoman for the British Roads Federation said that it was difficult to tell whether there is to be reduction in the roads programme until the review is completed.

The BRF welcomed the emphasis being placed on regional transport policy development, but stressed the need to address the present under-capacity of the roads system and conduct repairs on the network.

Emma Must of transport policy group Transport 2000 welcomed the review: "In the medium term we would like to see a move away from traffic generating schemes and toward route action plans involving local people in decision making," she said. If there are to be funds available for roads they should be put into road maintenance rather than building new roads, she added.