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M25 blackspot to get upgrade
4:00pm Friday 30th November 2007
ONE of south Essex's most notorious bottleneck junctions will be upgraded - but not for at least another six years.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged commitment to a radical overhaul of junction 30 on the M25, with the A13, to improve traffic flows in the region.
Speaking on the last day of the Thames Gateway Forum in the Excel Centre, London Docklands, Mr Brown said: "We have a commitment to tackling the largest remaining traffic blackspot in the region - junction 30 of the M25."
In the Thames Gateway delivery plan, published just after his speech, it states Highways Agency experts have completed initial reviews of possible solutions. Full plans to relive congestion will be released in autumn next year, with work expected to begin in 2013.
The report says: "Junction 30 of the M25 is recognised as the biggest remaining constraint to Thames Gateway development.
"Government will be working with partners over the coming months to overcome the current funding constraints."
Mary Spence, chief executive of Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership, welcomed the news.
She said: "I am absolutely delighted to see commitment to improving junction 30. It is is excellent news and something which is vital to south Essex and the Thames Gateway region.
"Although there has been no announcement on funding yet, a firm commitment means it is now likely to happen."
She added improvements were needed to ease congestion Dartford crossing.
"It could mean another junction altogether, or improvements to junction 30. We know the effects on our transport network if there is a crash on the M25 - it backs up all the way into south Essex."
Your Say YourEcho
Mike B, Billericay says...
6:33pm Fri 30 Nov 07
ShipShape, Basildonk says...
7:54am Sat 1 Dec 07
How to keepthemaway? Water Cannon, they don't like a good wash, I'll bring a bucket to help fill the tanks!
Trainman, says...
2:26pm Sat 1 Dec 07
Mike B wrote:That's because Common sense is long dead as we all know with Labour and the Tories. Just look in Parliament when they bicker and you will see neither have any Common Sense.
Quickest way to ease conjestion at the Dartford crossing would be to do away with the toll booths.The Government should take the view that the loss of income would be offset by less wastage of fuel in endless traffic queues and the resulting reduction in pollution levels.Probably too much to expect Brown and Co to take such a common sense step though.
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dave turner, says...
5:22pm Fri 30 Nov 07
He cannot recollect anything about monies, as he has proved ever since becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer over 10 years ago when he talked about Prudence he doesn't know her or what the meaning of the word is .