South East Aylesbury Link Road

[Herned]

I have seen elsewhere about this very minor road scheme, which involves a mile and a bit of dual carriageway, with three roundabouts. The only engineering of note is a bridge over a double track railway.

The scheme was approved in 2021 at a cost of £35m. It is now expected to cost £147m.

I'm simply astounded that a mile of road in open flat countryside can cost that much. What on earth is going on in this country?

[Truvelo]

So many simple road schemes seem to cost an extortionate amount these days.

30 years ago a trunk road was planned along the same alignment as part of a major east west route. I suspect £147m would have built the entire lot back then.

[fras]

I have seen elsewhere about this very minor road scheme, which involves a mile and a bit of dual carriageway, with three roundabouts. The only engineering of note is a bridge over a double track railway.

The scheme was approved in 2021 at a cost of £35m. It is now expected to cost £147m.

I'm simply astounded that a mile of road in open flat countryside can cost that much. What on earth is going on in this country?

Not just any old railway, it is HS2 now under construction.

[Herned]

Not just any old railway, it is HS2 now under construction.

No, that's further west, this section crosses the Chiltern line

[Bryn666]

Construction inflation has become unpredictable so a lot of estimates cost wise are seeing bulk contingencies in the high percentage bracket to cover any nasty shocks.

That presumably is how a road scheme can bloat by £100m.

You'd need to ask a proficient SPONS person for the true breakdown.