AN additional £5m of funding to continue the relieving congestion programme across the county has been announced by Worcestershire County Council.

This proposed funding in their draft budget is additional to the £5 million in previous years and the £6.6 million awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT).

The money is being earmarked to support schemes being developed, which includes the roundabout at Hoobrook in Kidderminster.

Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “Congestion is a priority for the county council because we know it’s important for the county’s residents.

“This additional money will help us to deliver bigger, better schemes to relieve congestion across the county as well as allowing us to add a few more improvement hot spots to the list.”

Schemes being developed at Bromsgrove Town Centre, Evesham Town Centre, and A38/A4104 staggered junction in Upton-Upon-Severn will also be progressed this year using the funding.

In Worcester, some of the funding to relieve congestion previously announced has already been used to improve the Sidbury Junction and the Croft Road crossing.

The funding has also improved signals at key junctions across the city such as Shrub Hill/Midland Road, Seabright Avenue/London Road, at North Quay crossing, Dolday, The Butts and the signals outside of Waitrose on London Road.

These improvements include the introduction of new technology to ensure more time is given to the priority flow of traffic and therefore reducing congestion.

Sites outside of the city also include improvements at Queen Street (Droitwich), Worcester Road (Kidderminster), Icknield Street Drive (Redditch) and Evesham Road (Astwood Bank).

In addition, over half of the £6.6 million awarded by the DfT is being used to improve a number of walking and cycling routes across Bromsgrove.