Government reveals £28 billion investment in UK roads

The Government has announced major plans for the UK's crumbling roads that will represent the biggest upgrade to the existing network.

Under the £28 billion plans there will be additional funding of £500 million for electric vehicles and £12 billion for road maintenance and resurfacing. The funding will also be backed by law, so future governments can't take funding away.

Cutting congestion and minimising the environmental damage of the roads is the main focus of the move.

The changes will also see the Highways Agency turned into a publicly owned company, a move that was exclusively hinted at by Stephen Hammond when he spoke to Auto Express in June. The agency will get at least six years of funding for projects and maintenance. 

One of these projects will be the 221 extra lanes created by switching the hard shoulder to a fourth lane, a move that was heavily criticised by the AA, as well as Auto Express readers.

Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: "Today’s changes will bring an end to the short-term thinking that has blighted investment in England's roads so that we can deliver the infrastructure our economy needs.

"Backed by the Government’s £28 billion commitment, they will give us a road network fit for the 21st century and beyond."

Of the £12 billion to be spent on maintenance, £6 billion of this will go on maintenance and resurfacing 80 per cent of motorways and major A-roads by 2020. The remaining £6 billion will then be used to tackle the backlog of maintenance and to reduce potholes on local roads.