The government has committed to spending £8.3 billion to fix Britain’s roads, which have been plagued by potholes. This money will be redirected from the scaled-back HS2 high-speed rail line.
This fund will be enough to resurface over 5000 miles of road and will be distributed to councils across the country for projects over the next 11 years.
It is the largest road-specific fund ever announced in the UK.
Transport secretary Mark Harper confirmed that each local authority will receive £150 million, with an additional £150 million for 2024/2025 and the rest of the funding allocated through to 2034.
Of the total funding, £3.3 billion will be allocated to the North West, North East, and Yorkshire & Humber; £2.2 billion for the West Midlands and East Midlands; and £2.8 billion for the East of England, South East, South West, and, for the first time in 8 years, London.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated, “For too long politicians have avoided making long-term decisions to improve people’s lives, and addressing potholes is a clear example. Well-maintained road surfaces could save drivers up to £440 each in costly vehicle repairs, allowing motorists to keep more money in their pockets.”
Harper added, “Most people use the roads, and potholes can cause problems for motorists, from expensive vehicle repairs to bumpy, slow, and unsafe journeys. Today’s significant funding increase for local road improvements is a win for all road users, who will benefit from smoother, faster, and safer trips, as we redirect HS2 funding to make the right long-term decisions for a brighter future.”
The new funding also includes an additional £70 million earmarked for updating 20mph zone guidance to prevent inappropriate blanket use, and measures to accelerate the expansion of electric vehicle charging.
New £8.3bn road fund welcomed
The fund has received the support of some of the UK’s largest insurers and motoring groups.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams stated that smoother, well-maintained roads could save drivers up to £440 each in repair costs from pothole damage.
He welcomed the news, saying, “Drivers’ biggest complaint is the poor condition of local roads, so the fact that the Government has found significant additional revenue should give councils the funding certainty they need to plan proper long-term road maintenance, something we have been advocating for many years.”
“We hope local authorities will use the money effectively by resurfacing the worst roads, maintaining those in reasonable condition for longer through surface dressing, and filling potholes as permanently as possible where necessary,” he added.