Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding the Government has provided to new M11 junction 7a.

Safety is the Department and National Highways’ main priority on all sections of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), comprised of England’s motorways and principal A-roads, including the M11 between junctions 6 and 8.

National Highways routinely monitors the M11, and accidents are analysed to understand cause and identify trends. National Highways completed several maintenance and improvement schemes since its 2018 accident study on the this stretch. These have improved the road surface, drainage and road markings.

National Highways has also contributed financially to the building of the new junction 7a by Essex County Council. The new junction will not only support growth around the Harlow constituency, but will improve the safety of those driving between Harlow and the M11.

Pursuant to the answer to Question 151672, total project costs for this scheme, including construction and widening of local link roads, is estimated to be around £81 million, with an agreed funding contribution from National Highways of £41.7 million which was provided to Essex County Council. Additionally, through the Department’s Large Local Majors programme, the scheme received £1.5 million of early development funding in 2017. The remainder of the project costs are being funded by Essex County Council and partners.