The Government announced in the last fortnight that it would be funding the Northampton North-West Relief Road to the tune of nearly £8 million (£7,930,000). This is something I have supported with local residents for some time, and I had been to see the Cabinet Minister responsible along with other Members of Parliament representing the constituencies around Northampton North.
Rt Hon Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced that this significant sum is being put towards a relief road connecting the A428 Harlestone Road to the A5199 Welford Road. By this decision the government has demonstrated that it recognises the need to invest in infrastructure in Northampton in order to unlock further economic potential.
This is very welcome news to me and many of my constituents, especially those living in the Kingsthorpe area who face heavy traffic flows daily. The project is set to improve access to 6,600 houses and create 3,393 jobs. For more information you can read the following the article in the Northampton Chronicle and Echo: http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/breaking-news-government-pledges-to-fund-north-west-bypass-for-northampton-1-7858393.
Of course there is still more to be done, and more investment is needed; the construction of this section of road will obviously not solve all the issues in one move - but there is no doubt it is a step in the right direction, a step towards completing an eventual orbital route around the town, which would link Harlestone Road to the A43 at an estimated cost of £32 million. This block of investment is good news for the town and our part of Northamptonshire, and moves us another step closer to that ultimate goal of an orbital route around the town.