“A move in the right direction” is the message from the Freight Transport Association – responding to the news that a new class of continental-style ‘expressways’ are to be developed as part of the Highways Agency (HA) Road Investment Strategy. 

FTA has said it is in support of the development of ‘expressways’ on major A Roads across the country – and considers them to be a step forward to improve the reliability and safety on some of the major routes across the UK.

HA has presented the Road Investment Strategy to Parliament as part of an £11 billion roads revolution.

FTA’s head of road policy Malcolm Bingham explained: “FTA supports the concept of developing and improving England’s strategic road network. The concept of developing ‘expressways’ on A roads is good news, and has to be a step forward to improve the reliability and safety on these vial strategic corridors. We have seen significant improvement on the A1 between Peterborough and Doncaster by creating a free flowing a road around some previously notorious junctions.  Routes such at the one to the south west of England should also benefit from this type of road upgrade.”

The Road Investment Strategy was presented by the Highways Agency ahead of it being transformed on April 1 into the new private sector roads operator called Highways England.

Ministers say the new government-owned company marks ‘a step change’ in how England’s roads are maintained and managed and will be responsible for delivering more than £15billion of investment by 2021.