Construction of junction 10a on the M20 has moved a step closer.

The new junction planned for just south of the existing junction 10 of the motorway, to the South East of Ashford, is one of several transport projects included in a major road building announcement made by Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon on Thursday.

Work on junction 10a is due to start in 2012, as previously expected.

Also included are plans for traffic to drive on the hard shoulder of the M20 between Junction 3 and 5.

The government says the multi-billion pound plans will increase capacity on some of the nation’s busiest roads, while supporting the economy and securing jobs.

Mr Hoon said: “The investment package of up to £6bn that I have set out will also fund more conventional widening projects as well as junction improvements and other innovative projects to tackle congestion.

“In the South East drivers will benefit from safe, faster and more reliable journeys as extra road capacity is added where it is most needed.”

Other plans include:

* Widening the M25 between junctions 16 and 23 in the north west, subject to achieving financial closure - with work planned to start this year

* Introducing hard shoulder running on M25 junctions 5-7 in the south - with work planned to start by 2015

* Introducing hard shoulder running on M3 J2-4a west of London - with work planned to start by 2015

* Introducing hard shoulder running on M4 J3-12 west of London - with work planned to start by 2015

* Introducing hard shoulder running on M1 J10-13 between Luton and Milton Keynes

* The trialling of a new system on part of the M25 to integrate the management of traffic between the motorway network and the local road network - with work likely to start by March 2012.

A long term plan to allow traffic to use the hard shoulder of the following motorways:

M20 J3-5 (Maidstone), M3 J9-14 (Southampton), M27 J4-11 (Southampton) and M23 J8-10 (Gatwick).