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Ashford transport schemes receive funding boost
Ashford’s ambitious growth programme has been given another welcome boost, with the approval of £15.1m of Regional Infrastructure Funding for two major transport schemes.
Improvements to the capacity of Junction 9 of the M20 and Drovers roundabout will allow future development in the Kent town of up to 10,000 new homes and the creation of 6,000 jobs in key development areas such as Eureka Park and Repton Park.
Changes include introducing traffic signals and widening the approach roads, and building a pedestrian footbridge over the motorway. Work is expected to start by next spring and be completed in early 2011.
“This is a huge boost for the projects and represents a significant milestone in the town’s growth plans,” said Judith Armitt, managing director of Ashford’s Future, the agency overseeing the £2.5bn investment programme which aims to double the size of the Channel Corridor town by 2031.
“Improvements to the capacity of Junction 9 and Drover’s roundabout are vitally important to allow future development in the area.
“Eureka Park and Repton Park continue to provide many new jobs and homes and we need to ensure the road network is able to cope with the additional capacity these developments generate as they come forward. We are delighted the SEEDA Board and Government have recognised the importance of these projects by approving our funding bid.
“With these schemes, and Southeastern’s full high-speed rail service starting on 13 December, connectivity to Ashford will be unparalleled in the region,” added Judith Armitt.
The projects will be funded by £15.1m of Regional Infrastructure Funding invested by the Department for Transport and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
For more information on Ashford visit http://www.ashfordbestplaced.co.uk/
Source: Ashford's Future
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