The Department expects modelling for schemes to be robust and advice on criteria forms part of the New Approach to Appraisal. For road schemes, the details can be found on the transport analysis website at:
http://www.webtag.org.uk/
and also in the Highways Agency's Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.
For the South West region, the Government have provided almost £865 million, through the Regional Funding Allocation (RFA), to be spent between 2007-08 and 2015-16 for regionally significant transport schemes, including road investment.
The region undertook a prioritisation exercise and the following road schemes within Dorset are currently programmed for funding:
Scheme Scheme sponsor DFT contribution (£ million) Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative Poole 13 A354 Wey mouth Relief Road Dorset 71 SE Dorset Bus Showcase Corridors, potentially including some road improvements SE Dorset 15
Additionally, the DFT has provided the following non-ringfenced capital allocations for the three years from 2008-09 to 2010-10 for routine highway maintenance in Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset:
Authority 2008-09 2009-10 20010-11 2008-09 to 2010-11 Bournemouth 932 1,025 1,179 3,135 Dorset 8,619 9,267 10,032 27,919 Poole 1,314 1,413 1,530 4,258 Whole of Dorset area 10,865 11,706 12,741 35,312 Percentage of regional total 9.9 10.2 10.1 10.1
The Highways Agency is responsible for the A31 and A35 through the Dorset area. There are currently no plans for improvements to the A31 within Dorset. However, on the A35 there are proposals to improve the capacity at three roundabouts before the 2012 Olympics. They are as follows:
Route Improvement Estimated cost (£ million) A35 Weymouth Road Stadium roundabout 1.8 A35 Stinsford roundabout 0.7 A35 Bere Regis roundabout 0.3 Total 2.8