New roads double in price since original estimates

The cost of new road schemes has increased by an extra £1.3bn, according to government figures researched by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
The new figures, released in answers to Parliamentary Questions by MPs Colin Challen and John Hayes, reveal that the costs of 21 road schemes have doubled since the original estimates were made.
Costs for 96 national and local road schemes have increased since first approved, with the bill for 39 of the national road proposals going up by an extra £1.3bn.
The CPRE claimed that constructing one mile of motorway costs on average £23m, and a mile of dual carriageway £12m.
The Highways Agency said: "Preparation and preliminary costs are now more clearly identified, rather than contained within construction costs."

* Of the 80 national road schemes listed, costs have risen on more than half (41) of them, and reduced in only two cases.
* Of the 71 local road schemes listed, costs have risen in 77% (or 55) of cases; and reduced in only two cases.
* Widening of the M25 between Junctions 12-15 has increased from £94m to £120m since it was approved in 1998.
* Costs on the A57/A628 Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass have increased by £13m since it was approved in April 2003.
* Costs on the A2 Bean-Cobham Phase 2 have more than doubled from £35m when first approved in July 1998, to the current estimate of £101m.