‘Shocking’ warning issued to thousands using major motorway in UK
Earlier this month, the Department for Transport confirmed funding worth GBP290million for the development of the M3 J9 scheme in South Hampshire.
16:33, 17 Mar 2025
'Shocking' warning issued to thousands using major motorway in UK
A major motorway project has been slammed amid claims of hidden costs - with it ballooning to GBP290million. Earlier this month, the Department for Transport confirmed funding worth GBP290million for the development of the M3 J9 scheme in South Hampshire.[1]
Transport Action Network (TAN) have slammed the plans. It described the decision as "shocking" and the group said this was a "very expensive way of encouraging more housebuilding".
Chris Todd, director of Transport Action Network, said: "The original figures presented to the Examination and the Secretary of State included inflation and other risks.
So why have costs shot up by over a third to GBP290million in only two years?
"It can only be that National Highways is hiding the true cost of its schemes in order to get them approved, or is incredibly bad at its job.
"Either way it is a damning indictment of National Highways and illustrates why it should be scrapped." Chris Todd argued that the "questionable business case" should have been binned.
He added that it was "disappointing" to see the Labour Government giving the green light to what he described as a "dubious road investment". Todd added: "The cost increases seen here will deny much-needed investment in road maintenance and public transport elsewhere."
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: "Anyone who uses this junction knows how frustrating it can be. But our GBP290 million investment will save thousands of hours for commuters, tourists and freight every week, unlocking the true potential of our ports to deliver economic growth.
"We're building rather than blocking so that we can get our economy growing.
Approving these works, and the 2,000 homes it will support, is just another milestone on the way to delivering 1.5 million homes in this Parliament as part of our Plan for Change.
"This government is investing in vital road schemes with huge economic benefits, and so far we've invested half a billion pounds for 6 schemes across England to renew our long neglected national infrastructure."
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