The government’s third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), published last week recognises that the UK’s motorways and trunk roads are “the economic arteries of the country” and it is “delays, bottlenecks and deteriorating infrastructure that stifle progress.”
The £25 billion investment in the Strategic Road Network (SRN) committed in the strategy has been welcomed by business group Logistics UK, and Head of Infrastructure and Planning Policy Jonathan Walker says the focus must now switch to delivery:
“The current poor road conditions act as a “tax on business” and our members will be encouraged that the Road Investment Strategy addresses network reliability through a focus on proactive asset management and preventative maintenance. It is estimated that every £1 invested in the SRN returns over £2 to society so the business case for investment is clear.
“Logistics UK is also pleased to see network performance on key freight routes will be prioritised, and there are explicit commitments to meet the needs of the freight and logistics sector through areas such as alleviating weight and height restrictions and improving driver facilities – something Logistics UK has been campaigning for, for several years.
“The emphasis must now be on delivery and ensuring that National Highways is sustainably funded to leave the SRN in a better condition at the end of the RIS3 period in 2031 than it is today.”
However Road Haulage Association (RHA) head Richard Smith said the strategy (RIS3) is a ‘missed opportunity for growth’.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that £24.9bn will be allocated to the Third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) to improve England’s motorways and trunk roads between 2026-31.
This represents a 10 percent reduction in the funding allocated to the previous five-year RIS2 period (2020-25), which is likely to hamper the Government’s mission to deliver economic growth.
Speaking about the announcement, Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director said; “This is a real missed opportunity, and we will still continue to make the case to ministers that ambitious investment in new roads can drive growth, particularly at a time when the economy is stalling and the costs of living and doing business are so high.
“This lack of prioritising new roads investment will have long-term impacts on haulage, coach and van businesses, with congestion costing the UK economy more than £30bn a year in delays and lost productivity.
“We’re clear that new roads are a vital enabler to boost business and better connect communities – indeed the Government’s ambitious housebuilding programme to deliver 1.5m new homes by 2029 will rely on a fit-for-purposes national infrastructure.
“We are pleased that some key new schemes were given the go-ahead earlier this year after we’d
