Skip to main content

UK creates Major Road Network designation for A-class highways

The UK government plans to create of a Major Road Network class of highway which would tap into the multi-million euro annual National Road Fund. Main roads that are now overseen by local authorities would share the National Roads Fund that is financed by the VED – vehicle excise duty - which was previously envisaged to be ring-fenced for national routes. The VED was around €6.6 billion for 2016-17. Roads covered by the strategy are the A-class highways. The deal is part of an investment strategy unveiled b
July 10, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The UK government plans to create a Major Road Network class of highway which would tap into the multi-million euro annual National Road Fund.


Main roads that are now overseen by local authorities would share the National Roads Fund that is financed by the VED – vehicle excise duty - which was previously envisaged to be ring-fenced for national routes. The VED was around €6.6 billion for 2016-17.

Roads covered by the strategy are the A-class highways.

The deal is part of an investment strategy unveiled by transport secretary Chris Grayling. It aims to improve productivity and connectivity of towns and cities to give an economic boost to areas outside the heavily populated southeast area that includes London and major sea ports.

“The transport investment strategy sets out a blueprint for how we can harness the power of transport investment to drive balanced economic growth, unlock new housing projects, and support the government’s modern industrial strategy,” said Grayling.

The proposals for the Major Road Network respond to %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund study WH News link Rees Jeffreys Road Fund false http://www.futureroadsengland.org/ false false%> last year, which highlighted the disparity between the funding and planning of Britain’s motorways — the strategic road network — and local authority A roads.

The UK government is investing more than €69 billion up to 2020-21 improving national transport infrastructure, including road, rail, air terminals.

Related Content

  • Bell will push the boundaries in ADT design
    February 6, 2013
    Bell Equipment is working on its biggest ever truck, which will offer a capacity of 55tonnes. A launch date has not yet been revealed for the hauler and technical details have yet to be revealed, however the machine will have a 4x4 drive system. Marc Schürmann managing director of Bell Equipment Europe said prototype testing for the machine will commence later this year. He said “Our competitors will be the smaller class of rigid haulers,” and he added that the aim is to offer lower fuel consumption and cap
  • Lombardini powers up the 8kW KD15-440
    January 6, 2017
    The Kohler/Lombardini group will use Bauma to update its range of air-cooled single cylinder diesel engines, unveiling the new 8kW KD15-440 engine which the manufacturer says will strengthen and improve the current 15LD series - elevating it to the top of the class within its power range. The KD15-440 is an air-cooled single cylinder diesel engine with a displacement of 441cc and an air filter that can offer, Lombardini claims, an operating life five times greater than the current version via its new high-e
  • Lombardini powers up the 8kW KD15-440
    February 15, 2013
    The Kohler/Lombardini group will use Bauma to update its range of air-cooled single cylinder diesel engines, unveiling the new 8kW KD15-440 engine which the manufacturer says will strengthen and improve the current 15LD series - elevating it to the top of the class within its power range. The KD15-440 is an air-cooled single cylinder diesel engine with a displacement of 441cc and an air filter that can offer, Lombardini claims, an operating life five times greater than the current version via its new high-e
  • IRF publishes ITS manifesto
    February 22, 2013
    Ministerial launch marks IRF’s long-term commitment to ITS deployment and the creation of conducive policy environments for the adoption of smart technology While sustainable mobility is recognised as one of the keys to social and economic development, our roads are becoming increasingly congested, road transport has negative environmental impacts and more and more cars need to be accommodated. For IRF, a pivotal response to this dilemma lies in the increased deployment of intelligent transport systems (IT