M25 Managed Motorways J16 - Highways Agency

3. Policy ObjectiveThe Department for Transport’s Business Plan 2011-15 set out a vision for a transportsystem that is an engine for economic growth and one that is also greener and safer andimproves quality of life in our communities. By improving the links that help to movegoods and people around, the Department can help to build the balanced, dynamic andlow-carbon economy that is essential for future prosperity.The primary objective of the DfT’s programme of trunk road improvements is to reducethe cost of congestion to business and individuals and thereby encourage economicactivity and improve social well being. The Controlled Motorway scheme will contributeto this by improving journey time reliability on the M25 between Junctions 16 and 23. Inparticular, the intention is to make journey times more predictable or “reliable” than canbe achieved through the current widening alone. A secondary objective is to reduceaccidents on the motorway. Accidents have a cost to business and society in terms ofpersonal injury and damage to property etc, but also in relation to the congestion theycause and the effect that this has on journey time reliability.20