The Government has issued a call for the UK construction industry to prepare for the “biggest investment in the road network since the 1970s”.
Speaking at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Robert Goodwill, roads minister, advised road building companies to get ready for a massive increase in work ahead of a £24bn Government investment.
Robert Goodwill said: “Funding certainty is critical to the construction industry in planning for the future and that is exactly what the Government has delivered, with £24 billion secure investment over six years and £50 billion for the strategic road network over the next 15 years.
“However, we need to make sure everyone is ready to deliver the massive programme of investment that we need to keep Britain’s roads moving.”
The Government says it is tripling funding on the road network over the next eight years. By the end of the next Parliament, the Government will be spending £3 billion each year on improvements and maintenance for the strategic network.
The Government says that this “locked-in funding commitment will support nearly 30,000 new jobs across the construction sector and deliver a safer, more sustainable road network that is fit for the 21st century and beyond”.
Click here to read the full DfT release.
Is this good? Some say we’ve reached “peak car”, although I’m not so sure. Our economy clearly depends upon a fast efficient road network but are more roads good for the planet?
We must resist road pricing at all costs. Not just because of the false economy and damage to the environment but because the authorities must not be allowed to track every responsible citizen everywhere they go. Many roads are in a shocking state so, if this cash is available, surely the top priority should be fix the roads we’ve already got?
Dave Finney, Slough
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