More than £1.9Bn of investment in Britain's roads will be spent next year, the Transport Minister Robert Goodwill promised earlier this week.

The investment forms part of a package of 209 schemes valued at £4.3Bn which, it is claimed, will boost the economy by over £18Bn. It is expected that half of these schemes should start or be completed next year.

Schemes will include 178 'pinch point' projects that tackle bottlenecks on local roads, and 31 major schemes to improve key networks.

Schemes that are due to start or complete in 2014 include work to the M4 between junctions 19 and 20 and the M6 between junction five and eight near Birmingham.

Government is keen for the road network to grow to cope with an expected 43% increase in traffic by 2040.

The Transport Minister said: “Roads are the lifeblood that keeps our economy going – they create jobs and help get products to markets.

“We are already seeing massive improvements being made to our major roads and motorways. In 2014 the public will see even greater improvements right across the country.”

An even larger programme of major roads improvement is planned for 2015, with spending rising to £3Bn a year by 2020.

Photo: Berto Garcia

To return to the newsletter, please close this window.