Government pledges £27bn in new Road Infrastructure Strategy
The government has unveiled its Road Infrastructure Strategy that will see it invest £27bn into UK roads over the next five years.
The funding will enable National Highways to resurface 5,590 miles of motorway and A roads.
Projects expected to benefit from the investment include making the A66 between Cumbria and North Yorkshire a dual carriageway, and supporting private investment into the Lower Thames Crossing.
A further 16 road schemes on the major road network and local roads have been approved, including bypasses and junction improvements.
Renewing UK roads
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said: “This new funding will be transformational for the millions of drivers and thousands of businesses that rely on our motorways and A roads every day. By investing in existing infrastructure and new schemes we are giving everyone the confidence they can get from A to B faster and smoother than ever before.”
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander added: “For too long this country has failed to tackle and fix our crumbling infrastructure, but this huge £27bn investment in our roads will secure the future of our road network for years to come.
“Not only are we investing in renewing our roads, meaning smoother and faster journeys for drivers, we are getting on with investing into brand new projects and fixing potholes, which will deliver benefits across the country.”
Driver behaviour
Meanwhile, road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has welcomed the news but urged the government to focus on driver behaviour to improve road safety.
William Porter, policy and public affairs manager, said: “This announcement is a welcome recognition that maintaining and renewing our road network is just as important as building new infrastructure when it comes to road safety. Drivers rely on well-maintained roads for safe journeys, and years of underinvestment have left too many routes in a poor and potentially dangerous condition.
“This focus on long-term, preventative maintenance is a positive step, but investment must go hand in hand with measures that improve driver behaviour and road design. A truly effective road network is one that is not only reliable and resilient but consistently supports safer driving and reduces the risk of collisions for everyone using it.”
