The UK government has laid out its plans to significantly improve the road network across the nation with a multi-billion pound investment.
A range of measures have been announced in partnership with Highways England with the aim of improving journey times, making better road and transport access for local communities and making roads quieter for 7,500 households close to major motorways and A roads.
Some flagship projects will be launched from the investment, including a new duel carriageway A66 which will improve Trans-Pennine links. There will also be an improvement to the major direct route between the South East and South West, including a tunnel near the Stonehenge World Heritage site.
“Our network is a vital part of everyone’s life. It has served the country well during the pandemic, keeping supermarket shelves stocked and enabling key workers to get where they need to be,” said Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England.
“Over the next five years we will increase capacity where it is most needed and continue to upgrade more of the network which has suffered from decades of under-investment.
“We now have a strong track record of delivering new schemes and operating the network for the benefit of our customers and the communities we serve. The plan we’re launching today will protect and create jobs to aid the nation’s recovery, and make journeys faster and more reliable for freight and road users.”