Roads revolution adds 900 miles of extra capacity

Road users in the UK will see around 900 extra lane miles of road capacity added to England’s strategic highway network by 2021, a third more than was provided in the previous decade. The boost is thanks to a huge US£39.7 billion investment, the biggest since the 1970s, which will see annual funding for enhancements to motorways and major A roads triple over the next six years. Investment includes more than US$15 billion on maintenance, US$10 billion of which will be spent on resurfacing 3,000 miles of t
August 27, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

Road users in the UK will see around 900 extra lane miles of road capacity added to England’s strategic highway network by 2021, a third more than was provided in the previous decade.

The boost is thanks to a huge US£39.7 billion investment, the biggest since the 1970s, which will see annual funding for enhancements to motorways and major A roads triple over the next six years. Investment includes more than US$15 billion on maintenance, US$10 billion of which will be spent on resurfacing 3,000 miles of the strategic road network.

Roads minister John Hayes said: “As a crucial part of our long-term economic plan to secure a brighter future for Britain, we are fixing problems that have been created by governments of the past by delivering around 35 per cent more capacity on our roads than was delivered in the nine years up to 2010. It is because of the difficult decisions that this government has taken that we are able to triple investment in our major roads to over US$5 billion a year up to 2021.”

The period 2001 to 2010 saw construction of 574 lane miles. This government has committed to 60 new road schemes, the majority of which will be completed by 2021, subject to value for money and deliverability. This will provide 962 miles of new road, 35% more miles of road per year than under the previous government.

More road schemes are expected to be added to the programme following the 2014 Autumn Statement, which could include solutions identified as part of six feasibility studies that are looking at dealing with some of the most notorious and long-standing hotspots on England’s roads, including the A303 in the south west and the A47 in the east of England.

Along with the results of the 503 Highways Agency route strategies – a comprehensive review of all roads in England – the outcomes of the studies will help ensure the government continues to meet the future needs of roads users.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Four drivers a month deliberately ignore Manchester motorway closures
    December 9, 2016
    Highways England is urging drivers Highways England is not to put road workers’ lives at risk by deliberately ignoring road closures on the M60 and M62 near Manchester. New figures have revealed that four drivers a month are entering closed sections of road in the Manchester smart motorway scheme to either overtake traffic on the motorway or avoid using diversion routes. Highways England has released CCTV footage showing a driver ignoring an overnight slip road closure at junction 11 of the M60 at Ecc
    Read More
  • Increased traffic forecasts underline need for well maintained roads
    March 19, 2015
    New traffic forecasts from the Department for Transport underlined the need for greater investment to improve the condition of the UK’s road network. The Road Traffic Forecasts 2015 predicts that levels of traffic will increase on motorways and major roads by up to 60 per cent in 2040 compared with 2010 levels. For principal roads the increase from 2010 to 2040 could be as high as 51% and for minor roads the prediction is up to 54 per cent. Car ownership is predicted to increase from 25 million in 2010 to 3
    Read More
  • A ‘transport revolution’ for Newcastle
    July 21, 2014
    Sweeping changes that will make the north-east city of Newcastle one of the easiest cities to get around look set to get the green light this week. Described by Newcastle City Council as the biggest change in a generation, the US$30.7 million programme of transport works and smart traffic signal technology is intended to make Newcastle one of the most accessible cities in the UK within five years. A report to the city council Cabinet highlights the huge benefits for pedestrians, cyclists, users of pub
    Read More
  • FTA calls for infrastructure investment in Chancellor’s Spending Review
    September 11, 2015
    The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has told the Chancellor that investment in roads and rail infrastructure is key to the UK’s future growth in its submission ahead of his 2015 Spending Review. Chancellor George Osborne will publish his review on 25 November, setting out how the Government will invest in priority public services and deliver the US$31 billion further savings required to eliminate Britain’s deficit by 2019-20. FTA says the UK economy’s reliance on freight means investing in the s
    Read More

Highlighted Content