The Transport Secretary expects a big decision on the future of the A38 to be made by the end of the year.
The Government has proposed cancelling a major project to expand the A38 to help tackle congestion problems on the busy Derby road.
The estimated £600 million project would see junctions at Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton upgraded with flyovers and underpasses, and roads widened.
Leading ministers initially committed to funding the controversial project – as well as the A46 in Nottinghamshire – but the then Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, later announced that savings were needed to make way for more spending on UK defence.
It was proposed that both schemes be cancelled.
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward reacted angrily to the decision, claiming the region was being targeted for spending cuts and that the projects would impact economic growth.
A Government-led consultation took place over the summer to gain feedback on the plans to cancel the schemes.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander provided an update on the process during her visit to Derby to announce the chosen destination for the headquarters of the new Great British Railways public body.
She said: “We did a consultation over the summer that closed in the middle of September. We are looking at the responses to that consultation very carefully.
“Nobody wants to be cancelling infrastructure projects, but when we have to consider how we can benefit our country and make sure every person is safe – these are really difficult decisions the Government has to balance.
“No final decisions have been taken about this – but we will be taking decisions in due course.”
Asked when Derby and Nottinghamshire residents would find out, the Secretary of State responded: “I do expect that in the next couple of months a decision will have been taken.”
The plans to expand the A38 have been controversial since they came to fruition years ago and have been on and off.
The Stop the A38 Expansion group has long been fighting against the plans on environmental and economic grounds and has legally challenged the scheme in the courts.
Clare Wood, a Mickleover resident from the Stop the A38 Expansion Campaign, said earlier this year: “The harms of this scheme – the felling of nearly 12 hectares of mature trees, increased air pollution, increased carbon emissions and over four years of construction disruption and worsening congestion on local roads – were justified by the authorities because of the claimed economic benefits.
“It is right that this wasteful, outdated road scheme is halted as all it would do is inflict harm on local residents’ health and the environment with no justifiable benefits.”
But East Midlands Mayor Mrs Ward launched a campaign calling for the Government to reinstate the projects.
She said: “The East Midlands has faced historic underinvestment in transport, and these schemes would support jobs, housing and economic growth not just in our region, but across the country.
“They are essential to our future success and to ensuring our region gets the investment it needs and deserves.”
By Nigel Slater Local Democracy Reporter