The Department of Transport has awarded £5 million to Herefordshire Council to invest in transport routes across the region.

The funding has been awarded as part of the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund, which encouraged local authorities to bid for funding for major maintenance projects that cannot be met by the normal funding allocations.

The £5m investment will enable Herefordshire Council and Balfour Beatty Living Places to support Herefordshire's economic growth. Road improvement works will include a specific focus on the Midlands Connect Strategic Economic Corridors which comprise of the A465, A438 and A4103.

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In addition, the council will invest £3m of its own funding to improve the condition of these A roads through a combination of resurfacing, surface dressing and carriageway rejuvenation which will be carried out by Balfour Beatty Living Places.

Steve Helliwell, Managing Director, Balfour Beatty Living Places, said: "We are delighted that Herefordshire Council has been awarded the Challenge Funding from the Department for Transport. This will enable us to further assist the council to improve their road network for the local community and boost the region's competitiveness and attractiveness to businesses.

"Competition for the funding was strong, and we believe that the strength of our partnership and the Highways Management Strategy resulted in securing this positive outcome."

(LM)