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‘Expressways’ a move in the right direction to improve UK roads

“A move in the right direction” is the message from the Freight Transport Association today – responding to the news that a new class of what it calls continental-style ‘expressways’ are to be developed as part of the Highways Agency (HA) Road Investment Strategy. FTA has said it is in support of the development of ‘expressways’ on major A roads across the country and considers them to be a step forward to improve the reliability and safety on some of the major routes across the UK.
March 23, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
RSS“A move in the right direction” is the message from the 6983 Freight Transport Association today – responding to the news that a new class of what it calls continental-style ‘expressways’ are to be developed as part of the 503 Highways Agency (HA) Road Investment Strategy.

FTA has said it is in support of the development of ‘expressways’ on major A roads across the country and considers them to be a step forward to improve the reliability and safety on some of the major routes across the UK.

HA has presented the strategy to Parliament as part of an US$16.3 billion roads revolution to be announced this week.

FTA’s head of Road Policy, Malcolm Bingham explained: “FTA supports the concept of developing and improving England’s strategic road network. The concept of developing ‘expressways’ on A roads is good news, and has to be a step forward to improve the reliability and safety on these vial strategic corridors. We have seen significant improvement on the A1 between Peterborough and Doncaster by creating a free flowing a road around some previously notorious junctions.  Routes such as the one to the south west of England should also benefit from this type of road upgrade.”

The Road Investment Strategy was presented by the Highways Agency ahead of it being transformed on 1 April into the new private sector roads operator called Highways England.

Highways England will have longer-term funding to be able to plan ahead and invest in skills and equipment to speed up essential work. The move is part of a radical package of road reform that is expected to save the taxpayer at least US$3.8billion over the next 10 years.

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