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The new Road Investment Strategy 3 marks a pivot toward maintenance, renewal, and completing existing, rather than starting new, enhancement projects.
Just five big enhancement schemes are due to start during the five-year RIS3 period through to 2031.
Ministers are pitching the package as one of the biggest ever road funding rounds, with a clear shift towards fixing worn-out assets while unlocking long-delayed capacity upgrades.
A record £8.4bn is earmarked for renewals, including resurfacing more than 9,000km of motorway and A-road lanes – close to a quarter of the network.
Major projects confirmed include the long-awaited A66 Northern Trans-Pennine dualling and continued backing for the Lower Thames Crossing, which is expected to rely on private finance to get over the line.
Contractors will also be eyeing a wide spread of structural and reconstruction work, from concrete road rebuilds on the M180 and A180 to bridge renewals on the M6 Lune Gorge and M32 Eastville Viaduct.
Alongside the strategic network, ministers have also waved through 16 local authority-led major road schemes, covering bypasses, junction upgrades and new links aimed at unlocking housing and regional growth.
| local authority major schemes | |
| scheme | scope |
| A140 / A1120 Earl Stonham | Junction realignment |
| A10 Broxbourne | Junction upgrades and sustainable transport |
| Norwich Western Link | New link road |
| Vauxhall Way | Dualling works |
| Shalesmoor Gateway | Roundabout replacement and widening |
| A650 Tong Street | Carriageway widening and active travel |
| A43 Northampton | Dualling phase 3 |
| A379 Exeter | Bridge structural renewal |
| M5 J28 | Junction upgrade |
| Northam Rail Bridge | New widened bridge |
| A229 Blue Bell Hill | Junction upgrades |
| A259 corridor | Public transport and capacity improvements |
| A326 Waterside | Corridor upgrade to M27 |
| Wigan East West | New link road |
| Sunderland corridor phase 4 | A1231 upgrades |
A further pipeline of schemes has been earmarked for RIS4 and beyond, giving contractors longer-term visibility on future workload.
National Highways Executive Director Elliot Shaw said: “Our focus on renewing vital infrastructure will keep people connected to their loved ones, support the delivery of new homes and jobs, and give industry the confidence to plan and invest in the UK.”
Click here for full RIS3 report.