M4 and M25 schemes among road projects given approval

Preliminary approval has been given to six major road development projects.

Works on the M4 and M25 motorways as well as developments on A-roads in North Tyneside, Kent, Hull and Immingham could begin in 2015.

Roads minister Mike Penning said the six projects were in a "good position" and had been chosen to offer the public a "good return on investment".

The government said a "pipeline" of future Highways Agency infrastructure projects would be maintained.

Under the proposals Junctions 3-12 of the M4 would be incorporated into a managed motorway scheme which seeks to reduce journey times and traffic congestion and increase road safety.

A congestion relief scheme would also be implemented at Junction 30 of the M25 and the A13 in Thurrock.

In North Tyneside, improvement works would be undertaken at the A19/A1058 Coast Road Junction, while a section of the A21 would be widened between Tonbridge and Pembury in Kent.

Improvements are also set to be made on the A63 in Hull and on the A160/A180 in Immingham.

Investment of £3bn in road projects had already been announced, with the government having chosen 20 new schemes in addition to allocating funds for the completion of existing developments.

These six new projects will be added to that list, while the interim period will be used to outline detailed plans for each scheme and to allow for any environmental or other concerns to be addressed.