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

  • Launch of landmark IRF Vienna Manifesto on ITS at World Congress
    November 1, 2012
    The culmination of extensive deliberation and work over the past few years by IRF Geneva’s Policy Committee on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), The IRF Vienna Manifesto on ITS – Smart Transport Policies for Sustainable Mobility will be the object of a high-profile launch during the forthcoming 19th ITS World Congress, to be held in the Austrian capital from 22-26 October 2012. The Manifesto brings together key policy arguments for investing in ITS as well as a set of supporting policy recommendations. I
  • ERIC 2016 - European Road Infrastructure Congress - coming to Leeds
    February 26, 2016
    The European Union Road Federation is seeking abstracts for the largest European Roads Infrastructure event in 2016 to be held 18-20 October. Leeds, a city at the heart of the UK’s Northern Powerhouse Corridor, has been chosen to host the first European Roads Infrastructure Congress, between the 18th and 20th of October, 2016. The European Roads Infrastructure Congress – ERIC 2016 – will provide the opportunity for industry experts and political leaders to discuss current issues affecting the industry
  • Brazil: contractors fear more layoffs as DNIT fails to pay up
    November 25, 2014
    The head of Brazil’s association of road constructors has warned of more layoffs unless the National Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DNIT) starts paying its contractors. Jose Alberto Pereira Ribeiro, president of ANEOR – National Association of Road Works - said companies already have been forced to lay off around 1,700 workers in light of non-payment by the government. Another 950 employees are on forced holidays. Ribeiro claimed DNIT failed to meet its financial obligations for September
  • Cape Town Congress on target
    May 18, 2017
    The Cape Town Road Infrastructure and Development Congress is on track to attract even more global investors, government, road organisations, according to the event organisers. These attendees are coming from East, West and Southern Africa as well as major construction companies, bitumen suppliers, traders and consumers than in previous events. International investors, government representatives as well as construction companies are looking for suppliers for their committed projects across sub-Saharan Afric