Geoff Hoon sets out plans for £1bn of transport spending

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has set out details on how the government plans to spend a £1bn package to accelerate transport projects.

The money available includes the £700m for investment in major transport projects announced yesterday by Chancellor Alistair Darling, as well as £300m of new money to speed up the improvement of transport links to airports and ports.

Geoff Hoon said: "Congestion, whether it is on our roads or railways, is not just a nuisance to travellers, it is also a tax on the productivity of our businesses, and if left unchecked could become a brake on growth. That is why I am today accelerating plans to make better use of Britain's motorways and why I am also earmarking a further £300m to remove bottlenecks and increase capacity on road links to key airports and ports."

The £700m package includes:

• 200 new train carriages earlier than originally expected for rail passengers in the Thames Valley, around Bristol and in Northern England;
• The acceleration of active traffic management work. The government will announce which motorways will open the hard-shoulder to traffic in the New Year.
• Work on a new fast link between the A1 and M1 by dualling the missing section of A46 from Newark to Widmerpool could start two years early, allowing the link to open in 2011.

Of the £300m of new money:

• Up to £165m could be spent on a new road link between Manchester Airport and the A6 to the east.
• An extra £54m to enhance the North London rail line to increase long-term freight capacity
• Up to £60m will be invested in introducing new traffic management measures to improve safety, reduce delays and tackle congestion along 54 miles of the A12.
• Up to £30m will be available to help improve access on the A160/A180 to Immingham Port on the River Humber.