Government to invest £27bn in England’s roads

The Government has confirmed a £27 billion investment in England’s road network, setting out plans to maintain, renew and upgrade motorways and major A‑roads over the next five years as part of its third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3).

The funding will focus on improving the Strategic Road Network, which includes England’s motorways and key A‑roads managed by National Highways. Ministers say the investment is intended to support economic growth, improve journey reliability and ensure roads remain fit for modern traffic demands.

According to the Department for Transport, the £27bn programme will prioritise renewing ageing infrastructure, tackling congestion, and improving safety across some of the country’s busiest routes.

The strategy includes large‑scale resurfacing work across thousands of miles of motorway and A‑road lanes, alongside upgrades to roadside technology.

For fleet operators, the announcement signals a sustained focus on road reliability, which remains critical for logistics, service vehicles and high‑mileage fleets.

Poor road conditions contribute to higher vehicle wear and tear, unplanned downtime and increased maintenance costs — all of which can have knock‑on effects for operational risk and insurance exposure.

Improved road surfaces and upgraded infrastructure could help reduce suspension damage, tyre claims and collision risk linked to congestion.

While the scale of the investment has been welcomed by industry, the Government has been clear that the funding is a long-term investment, not a quick fix and will focus on long‑term renewal, rather than rapid fixes to local roads.

Much of the money will be directed at the Strategic Road Network rather than council‑managed streets, meaning some local issues may persist despite the national programme.

For fleets operating nationally, the emphasis on motorways and major A‑roads is likely to deliver the greatest benefit. These routes carry a significant proportion of freight traffic and play a key role in keeping supply chains moving.

From a risk and insurance perspective, better‑maintained roads can contribute to improved safety, but they don’t remove the need for strong fleet controls. Driver behaviour, vehicle maintenance and journey planning will all continue to play a central role in claims prevention.

The £27bn road investment marks one of the largest commitments to England’s major road network in recent years. For businesses that depend on reliable transport, the strategy offers the prospect of smoother journeys and improved network resilience — provided operators are prepared to manage both the opportunities and the disruption that large‑scale infrastructure programmes inevitably bring.

Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-renewal-of-ageing-english-roads-delivered-with-27-billion-investment

Learn more about RIS3 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-investment-strategy-3-ris3-2026-to-2031