Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has hinted that the A303 corridor between the Westcountry and London is the region's next major road scheme in line for investment.
The Secretary of State today begins a tour of vast swathes of the far South West, pledging repairs of storm-hit ports across Devon and Cornwall, and visiting a highways upgrade in Redruth as well as inspecting the new London-Penzance sleeper trains.
But speaking to the Western Morning News ahead of the trip, he moved to allay fears a recent splurge had undermined the case for two eagerly-anticipated transport schemes in the region.
Mr McLoughlin said "everyone accepts" the notorious A303, A30 and A358 corridor between London and the South West, which is subject to a Government review, is in need of investment.
The Conservative minister also promised the Network Rail review into alternatives to Devon's coastal railway, which collapsed into the sea this winter, would lead to building protection that "matched up to the weather conditions we faced". The Department for Transport is examining nine blackspots on the 110-mile highway from near Exeter to Andover in Hampshire, which would cost £1.2 billion to upgrade fully. An announcement is expected at the Chancellor's autumn statement.
Mr Mcloughlin said: "What we have to do following on from last winter is look at how we do resilience for the whole area. That's partly what I want to look at the A303 for.
"Everyone accepts there has got to be investment on the A303, it's where do you best target that particular investment. It is an important route because it is so heavily used by people, particularly in the summer.
"We are doing road investment. Kingskerswell. In Camborne Pool and Redruth. The next question is what do you do about the A303."
The Network Rail analysis signalled alternative Dawlish routes, costing up to £3 billion, were "poor value for money". Mr McLoughlin will make a decision after the summer recess, though many feel he will opt to strengthen the existing line.
He said: "The report came up with certain options. Some very expensive and we need to think whether they are runners or not. I've not asked for that report to be done and ignore it.
"What we have to do is make sure we get something that is resilient, and is matched up to the kind of weather conditions we faced last year. Hopefully we won't face them again in quite the same ferocity, but we've got to protect the site."
