Roads funding plan prioritises maintenance above new capacity

The government has set out its £25bn funding plan for roads from 2026 to 2031, radically shifting spending away from road upgrades and capacity schemes towards maintenance and renewals.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the central objective of the Road Investment Strategy (RIS) 3 was a well-maintained network.

In the previous iteration, RIS2, enhancements to the current network accounted for more than half (£14.12bn) of the £27.36bn total settlement, a proportion that has dropped to just 15.4 per cent (£3.85bn) in the new strategy, worth a core £25bn.

The strategy said: “RIS3 marks a deliberate transition from an emphasis on large-scale enhancement projects to an increased focus on major renewals and maintenance, keeping the network safe, reliable and open.”

It said this would mean a “stronger focus on planned and preventative maintenance, like resurfacing worn-out sections of road before they deteriorate”.

Earlier intervention would reduce the need for more resource-intensive repairs down the line, it said.

The approach is also intended to cut delays and disruption caused by unplanned works.

RIS3 also places greater emphasis on major renewal schemes. These would address ageing structures and the reconstruction of concrete road surfaces.

The DfT cited the Lune Gorge project on the M6 in Cumbria as one example. The scheme will renew seven bridges that are approaching their end of life.

It said the new bridge designs would improve long-term safety. They are also intended to reduce the need for significant maintenance in future.

Routine renewals would continue across the network, the department said. It said those works would extend asset life, improve resilience and help avoid emergency repairs or disruptive closures.

Some enhancement schemes from earlier programmes would continue into the third road period.

The department said these projects were aimed at known pinch points to improve safety, reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability.

The £3.8bn enhancement allocation includes the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine route, with the funding supporting a continuous dual carriageway between the M6 at Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner.

RIS3 also introduces a new Growth and Housing Accelerator Fund aimed at paying for transport infrastructure to unlock housing and employment sites.

It said the fund would be aligned with plan-led development and wider placemaking objectives.