The Government has given its strongest signal yet that it will find the money to end some of the traffic nightmare on the A303.
Roads Minister Robert Goodwill told MPs all six major road upgrades being audited by Whitehall officials – including the A303, A30 and A358 corridor – will enjoy a "degree of success" when Chancellor George Osborne unveils his autumn financial.
Most believed the schemes would be competing with each other for funds.
Last month, the Department for Transport unveiled the scope of its study into upgrading the second main road connecting London and the South West.
If the entire 110-mile, often single carriageway road from near Exeter in Devon and finishes close to Andover in Hampshire was upgraded it would cost £1.2 billion.
Nine blackspots on the highway will be given special attention by civil servants, notably a potential road tunnel under Stonehenge.
Potential roadblocks to an upgrade, the report acknowledges, are the "great weight" likely to be given to "conserving landscape and scenic beauty in nationally designated areas", underlining concern over the impact on Stonehenge and the protected Blackdown Hills in Somerset.
Mr Goodwill made the comments during a debate in Westminster where MPs from the east of England pressed the minister for promises over improving the A47, another of the six under consideration.
"I should like to make it clear that this is not a competition in which there can only be one winner," said Mr Goodwill, he last month journeyed the fill length of the A303, A30 and A358 corridor with Devon Conservative MP Neil Parish.
"I hazard to suggest that there will be a degree of success in all six areas that we have identified."
He was not clear how extensive the improvements would be.
Mr Goodwill has previously suggested the £50 billion to be invested in a new railway between London and the north – so-called HS" – strengthens arguments for the A303 to be upgraded.
The Western Morning News also revealed earlier this year the winter storms that brought paralysis on the South West's rail network had accelerated the analysis of the road scheme.
A funding pot of £4 billion is available through unallocated money in this year's roads budget. Some £28 billion has been set aside for investment in the road network by 2020.
A campaign led by Somerset, Devon and Wiltshire county councils claims effectively building a dual carriageway would create more than 21,000 new jobs.
The other road schemes being considered are the A1 north of Newcastle, the A1 Newcastle-Gateshead bypass, the A27 in Sussex and the Trans-Pennine upgrade.
Roads Minister Robert Goodwill told MPs all six major road upgrades being audited by Whitehall officials – including the A303, A30 and A358 corridor – will enjoy a "degree of success" when Chancellor George Osborne unveils his autumn financial.
Most believed the schemes would be competing with each other for funds.
Last month, the Department for Transport unveiled the scope of its study into upgrading the second main road connecting London and the South West.
If the entire 110-mile, often single carriageway road from near Exeter in Devon and finishes close to Andover in Hampshire was upgraded it would cost £1.2 billion.
Nine blackspots on the highway will be given special attention by civil servants, notably a potential road tunnel under Stonehenge.
Potential roadblocks to an upgrade, the report acknowledges, are the "great weight" likely to be given to "conserving landscape and scenic beauty in nationally designated areas", underlining concern over the impact on Stonehenge and the protected Blackdown Hills in Somerset.
Mr Goodwill made the comments during a debate in Westminster where MPs from the east of England pressed the minister for promises over improving the A47, another of the six under consideration.
"I should like to make it clear that this is not a competition in which there can only be one winner," said Mr Goodwill, he last month journeyed the fill length of the A303, A30 and A358 corridor with Devon Conservative MP Neil Parish.
"I hazard to suggest that there will be a degree of success in all six areas that we have identified."
He was not clear how extensive the improvements would be.
Mr Goodwill has previously suggested the £50 billion to be invested in a new railway between London and the north – so-called HS" – strengthens arguments for the A303 to be upgraded.
The Western Morning News also revealed earlier this year the winter storms that brought paralysis on the South West's rail network had accelerated the analysis of the road scheme.
A funding pot of £4 billion is available through unallocated money in this year's roads budget. Some £28 billion has been set aside for investment in the road network by 2020.
A campaign led by Somerset, Devon and Wiltshire county councils claims effectively building a dual carriageway would create more than 21,000 new jobs.
The other road schemes being considered are the A1 north of Newcastle, the A1 Newcastle-Gateshead bypass, the A27 in Sussex and the Trans-Pennine upgrade.
