Gosport finds rapid route to improved links

01 April 2009

Hampshire’s proposed bus rapid-transit route has been awarded £20M through the Government’s community infrastructure fund.

The first phase of the route, in Gosport, is one of 29 projects in growth areas to win a total of £170M to support the development of 40,000 new homes over the next decade.

Other projects include road and junction improvements in King’s Lynn, to support 900 new homes (£5.3M); ramp metering on the A14 Kettering (£1.3M); and a cycle and pedestrian bridge outside Swindon to improve sustainable transport access to the town centre. In Norwich, £21M has been awarded to improve the A47 ‘Postwick hub’ junction.

In Hampshire, funding is now in place to develop the first phase of the BRT, using a disused rail line in Gosport to create a dedicated, high-quality bus route.

The rapid-transit system, proposed following the Government’s refusal to provide £253M for a tram scheme three years ago because of cost increases, is Hampshire County Council’s ‘highest transport priority’.

The whole of the proposed BRT scheme will provide a new, dedicated route for reliable and frequent bus travel between Gosport and Fareham, avoiding congestion on the A32 – the only road into the Gosport peninsula. The first phase of the scheme is due for completion by March 2011.

Announcing the funding, transport minister, Paul Clark, said: ‘Around 60% of the schemes that we are supporting include sustainable transport initiatives –reflecting a real commitment to supporting housing growth through sustainable means.’

Other schemes to benefit from funding include the Reading station interchange (4.4M), Milton Keynes Busway (5.6M), and a new A12 junction at Colchester (£11.2M).

Register now for full access

Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.

Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors. Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.

Already a registered? Login