The road projects confirmed for government funding

The government has confirmed its stance on a number of road projects affecting the East of England

Road networks across the East of England are set to be upgraded and redesigned under confirmed government funding.

The improvements would be made on infrastructure including the A12 near Ipswich and the Army and Navy roundabout in Chelmsford.

Other projects selected by the Department for Transport (DfT) were in Essex, Norfolk and Buckinghamshire.

This is what they could mean for motorists using the roads.

The Army and Navy roundabout - Chelmsford, Essex

The Army and Navy roundabout provides crucial access in and out of Chelmsford city centre

Plans have been approved to rebuild the existing five-arm roundabout by creating several lanes to run through its middle.

This so-called hamburger style will help to bust lengthy congestion and reduce emissions, according to Essex County Council.

A key gateway into Chelmsford, the Army and Navy was used by up to 70,000 vehicles an hour before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Figures provided by County Hall suggested the new-look junction would make journeys 53% quicker for those using cars.

Councillors approved the £81m blueprints in November and the government said it would fund works on Tuesday.

The Sandon park and ride would also be expanded from 1,300 spaces to 1,680 under the plan, with 90 more electric vehicle charging points at the Chelmer Valley site.

A12 - Ipswich, Suffolk

The A12 links Suffolk's two biggest towns: Ipswich and Lowestoft

A package of improvements to the A12 east of Ipswich will span from Bucklesham to Melton.

They will lead to upgrades on seven of the eight roundabouts between the A14 Seven Hills junction and the A1152 Woods Lane.

It was planned to improve traffic flow in the area, particularly due to extra vehicles serving Sizewell C.

The scheme was previously estimated to cost £63.6m, with the government pledging £54m in October 2023.

However, the DfT refused to provide an updated figure on Tuesday.

Instead, a spokesman said the scheme would "continue to be funded to reduce congestion and speed up journey times".

Also included in the project was a new bus route along Portal Avenue and a dual carriageway at Seckford Hall, near Woodbridge.

South East Aylesbury Link Road - Buckinghamshire

Planners are working on a bypass that will ease traffic in Aylesbury town centre

Work has been ongoing to build a £147m orbital road that bypasses Aylesbury, easing congestion in the town centre.

To enable the scheme to continue, a link road south-east of the town needed to be built.

The DfT already said it would put £13.4m towards building part of this road, but on Tuesday it backed the link route in its entirety after the Treasury's spending review.

The 1.1km (0.7-mile) dual carriageway is described as essential to enable homes being built in the area.

It will connect to the proposed Southern Link Road through the Hampden Fields development.

A road bridge will also be built crossing the Aylesbury to London railway line.

Fairglen interchange - Rayleigh, Essex

Drivers using the Fairglen interchange experience high levels of congestion during peak periods

Work has already started on improving the Fairglen interchange, which links the A127, A130 and A1245 at Rayleigh near Southend-on-Sea.

It was planned to future-proof the junction, with an estimated 60,000 new homes to be built in south Essex by 2043.

Blueprints include a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a dedicated off-slip link road between the A130 and southbound A1245.

Enhancements to the interchange will also include work on surrounding roundabouts in Rayleigh.

The DfT has reaffirmed a £15m contribution it made in 2016 when the Conservatives were in power.

Essex County Council will pay £38m towards the project, with the South East Local Enterprise Partnership also investing £6.2m.

A10 West Winch - King's Lynn, Norfolk

The new route will connect King's Lynn and North Runcton

In its announcement on Tuesday, the government also stressed it was still backing this new road in West Norfolk.

The West Winch access route will run alongside a new housing development, connecting the A10 south of King's Lynn to the A47 at North Runcton.

It was planned to ease the pressure of 4,000 homes being built at West Winch, also relieving traffic on the existing A10.

The BBC reported in April that the DfT would pay £91.1m towards the £109m project.

However, the DfT would not confirm that figure on Tuesday.

The remaining £18m will be met by Norfolk County Council and levies on house builders.