Kate writes a bi-weekly column for the Burton Mail. This column was originally featured in the 28th January print edition.
Last week, the Government awarded Staffordshire £20 million to deliver significant highways improvements to key roads across our county, including a lion share for the A38 in Burton. This was following a successful bid by Staffordshire County Council to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, a bid which I gave my support and backing to.
This funding will make a massive difference to the journeys and driving experiences of all of us locally who use the A38 on a daily basis. The planned programme of works, including a major intervention and reconfiguration of the Branston interchange, will help to cut congestion, improve safety for all road users and create opportunities for economic growth leading to new employment in our local area.
Since my election and making improving the A38 a key priority of mine, I have campaigning to see improvements delivered to this important road. That is why I am pleased that this has now been achieved but I will continue to campaign for further investment for the A38, including the Claymills junction.
This week, I convened and chaired a meeting of MPs, businesses and Department for Transport officials to discuss plans to also see significant upgrades to the A50/A500 corridor, including proposals to remove both the McDonald's and Derby Road roundabouts with a new junction built to the east of Uttoxeter to ease congestion and improve road safety.
At the meeting, we discussed these plans and set out a strong case for investment, seeking a resolution to move the proposals forward. National Highways is already planning for Road Investment Strategy 3, which will confirm the Government’s priorities for major road investment 2025-30, and as such, Midlands Connect has been undertaking work ahead of any announcement in 2024 to make the strongest case for these road improvements.
I will continue to bang the drum for roads investment in Burton and Uttoxeter but I am pleased with the progress we have made, driving forward real benefits for my residents and all those who use our roads.
