A BUSINESS partnership has agreed £10m funding to support road network improvements in the city centre.

The award from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund towards the Chelmsford City Growth Area Scheme will help finance 16 projects aimed at improving highways and public transport capacity.

Christian Brodie, Chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Chelmsford is undergoing significant growth and its roads are under increasing pressure with only four percent capacity remaining on the highway network in the morning and evening peaks.

“If nothing is done to improve matters, future growth will lead to gridlock on the city’s roads, seriously harming the local environment and economy.

“Essex County Council has developed a vision for the future transport network for the city, and this funding will help that be realised.”

He added: “These projects are vital to help towards the completion of 4,350 new homes to the north of the city centre and to providing the 250 jobs associated with a new hotel, shops and school in north Chelmsford. Together they will help improve safety, especially for cyclists, improve sustainable transport and increase the number of bus passengers, and support the economic growth of the city centre.”

Some of the 16 schemes, which will also receive £5m of funding from Essex County Council, include redesigning the Broomfield Road junction with Corporation Road, to include a bus stop and cycle lane, an extension of the Chelmer Valley Road bus lane to support the Chelmer Valley Park and Ride, improving cycling connectivity across the city centre and a new bus gate on the Baddow Road approach to the Army and Navy roundabout to improve bus journey times.

A majority of the plans include improvements to bus lanes, pedestrian crossings and cycle routes throughout the city centre.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, Deputy Leader at Essex County Council, said: “Everyone knows that congestion is a big issue in Chelmsford with the city’s roads. This is a bold plan to ease congestion and create a truly modern and joined-up sustainable transport network.

“We cannot continue to just build more roads and rely on our cars to get everywhere – we have to design our roads to ensure sustainable transport is a quick, easy and accessible alternative. I truly believe we have presented a package of works that will transform Chelmsford’s transport network for the better.”