M25 overhaul expected
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is set to unveil a 1.7 billion pound overhaul of the routinely chockablock M25 motorway, a move fiercely opposed by environmental groups.
The Department of Transport chief is expected to make the announcement next Wednesday on plans to build the eight-lane “super-highway” by 2012. Parts of orbital motorway already have eight lanes.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) has criticised Mr Darling for apparently going back on a pledge not to widen the motorway.
According to FoE, he said last month an enhanced M25 would not relieve the UK’s growing transport problem.
A FoE spokesman said: “This is a triumph of hope over experience. It has always failed in the past and there is no reason to believe that it will work now.”
Under the road building plans, M11, M1 and M42, could be widened to as many as 12 lanes.
The RAC Foundation said yesterday widening the M25 would be “exceptionally positive.”
