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<p>On 29 January the Government announced a £10.2m expansion of the Growth Deal with
the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). We understand the
LEP intends to use around £7.5m of that additional funding for 4 new local transport
schemes, taking the total funding for local transport improvements as part of the
Growth Deal to over £100m, supporting delivery of 20 transport projects across Berkshire.</p><p>
</p><p>This funding is in addition to £36.9m integrated transport block funding for
the six Berkshire local authorities covering the period 2015/16 to 2020/21, and £2.1m
local pinch point funding for the Stafferton Way Link Road in Maidenhead.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government launched the Roads Investment Strategy on 1 December 2014. The M4 Junctions
3-12 smart motorway project to upgrade the M4 from east of Heathrow to west of Reading
continues to be progressed. The Highways Agency intends to submit a Development Consent
Order (DCO) application for the scheme at the end of March. Subject to consent and
the final business case, construction could start in late 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The
Highways Agency is due to complete the £2.5 million pinch point scheme to relieve
traffic congestion at the M4/A329 (M) junction in June, and will deliver a scheme
to improve the operation of the A404 Bisham roundabout in 2015/16.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government is also investing heavily in improvement of the rail network in Berkshire,
including the Crossrail, Great Western electrification and Waterloo-Windsor lines
train lengthening projects, which may have the impact of relieving traffic congestion
in the county by offering improved alternatives to travel by car.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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