A road revolution for the 21st century
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has outlined the government's vision for the road network at the New Civil Engineer鈥檚 conference.
New technology, better infrastructure and reforming how roads are maintained in the future was at the heart of Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin鈥檚 speech to the construction industry today (9 July 2014).
Outlining the government鈥檚 vision for the road network at the New Civil Engineer鈥檚 conference, the Transport Secretary set out how congestion and pollution can be tackled in the future. He made clear that building new roads is not always the right solution to cutting congestion 鈥� but about thinking differently, using better data on traffic flow, and making targeted road improvements to better roads for motorists.
The Transport Secretary also set out how the government鈥檚 commitment to tripling the amount spent on road improvements to over 拢3 billion a year by 2021 was also essential for an efficient future road network. The reformation of the Highways Agency into a government-owned company is predicted to save at least 拢2.4 billion over the next 10 years, which - along with secure government funding - will help to put an end to stop-start investment and strengthen England鈥檚 road network.
The Transport Secretary also called on the industry to make sure they have their say. He said it was vital that we have the 鈥榬ight people, with the right skills鈥� to implement the government鈥檚 拢24 billion investment plan for the road network.
Patrick McLoughlin said:
We need more skilled workers. You are the experts and understand how fast the road landscape is changing. We want to hear from you and how together we can make things better.
Later this year the Department for Transport will publish a long-term 鈥榬oads investment strategy鈥� to support the government鈥檚 economic ambitions for the road network. The strategy will set out a clear vision for the reform of the Highways Agency and include a new 5 year plan for future road investment.