A MULTI-MILLION pound government investment to ease congestion in Worcester and improve travel choices for residents has been welcomed by county council chiefs.
More details have been unveiled about the £3.2m investment announced by the Department for Transport last week.
Worcestershire will receive a total of £6.6m of funding from the DfT which will be spent in the city to make improvements and in Bromsgrove.
Funding for the city will be spent on improvements between St John’s and Sidbury to improve traffic flow.
The focus will be on signal and crossing upgrades and public realm improvements at locations including St Johns, Croft Road, Sidbury and Dolday.
The £6.6million complements millions already being invested by Worcestershire County Council into easing congestion.
Coun Ken Pollock, cabinet member for the Economy and Infrastructure, said: “Tackling traffic congestion across Worcestershire is a priority for us and that is why the County Council is already investing £5milliom into schemes that will improve traffic flow across the county.
“This additional investment from the Department for Transport will enable us to do even more to help local residents beat congestion and get around more quickly, cheaply and reliably.
“Investment in transport infrastructure such as this will help to promote active travel and provide businesses with improved access to markets and employees and encourage economic growth in Worcestershire.”
Worcester MP Robin Walker hailed the cash boost as a ‘key investment for the city centre’.
“I welcome the relief it will bring to local residents travelling through the city at peak times,” he added.
“In particular, the changes planned at the Croft Road crossing, moving from a zebra crossing to a traffic light system, will address a notorious pinch point that a large number of constituents have raised with me over the past few years.”
“Those of us who have travelled through Worcester regularly at morning and afternoon rush hour know how quickly congestion can back up – and this has had an impact not only on the growth and vitality of the city centre, but also on the quality of the air we breathe.”
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