Vision for future of Strategic Road Network “vital for logistics sector”, says Logistics UK

The Strategic Road Network Initial Report for 2025-2030 sets out National Highways’ advice to government on priorities for one of the country’s most important assets over the next five-year period and beyond. 

The 4,500-mile network carries around four million vehicles a day – providing links to all major ports and airports – and the report says continued funding is needed to support the safe, efficient movement of people and goods.   

The report indicates that National Highways will focus increasingly on making the most of its existing network through proactive maintenance and improvement works – boosting safety and journey reliability and in turn driving economic prosperity. This includes through greater use of digital technologies, getting the network ready for connected and autonomous vehicles, and encouraging active travel. 

The report also outlines the challenges facing these increasingly busy roads and how investment can help tackle congestion and smooth traffic flow. Most motorways were built in the 1960s and 70s and now require extensive renewal while National Highways also needs to ensure performance and safety levels are maintained in the face of increased exposure to severe weather.  

“Boosting the safety, efficiency and reliability of the road network is absolutely vital for our members to provide quality services for customers and acceptable working conditions for employees,” said Jonathan Walker, Head of Cities and Infrastructure at Logistics UK.

“We therefore welcome the positive proposals outlined in the Strategic Road Network Initial Report for 2025-2030 and can assure our members that we’ll be assessing the plans fully and responding in detail to the consultation in due course.”

The Initial Report will be subject to an eight-week consultation by the Department for Transport. Proposals outlined, which would be subject to future decisions on funding from government, include:  

• A continued focus on safety, targeting a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries through interventions such as targeted upgrades to single carriageway A-roads, initially focusing on 17 routes covering 147 miles;
• Increasing investment in small local schemes – those valued £2m to £25m – to spread opportunity and tackle known safety and congestion issues, often via improved slip roads and junctions connecting to local roads; 
• Providing road users with more real-time and personalised information covering congestion, on-going incidents, planned roadworks, events and the availability of electric vehicle charging points, giving them alternative routes if necessary; 
• A greater focus on improving journey experiences, including considering lorry parking facilities as part of the design and planning of projects where a need is identified; 
• Enabling the transition to zero carbon motoring by supporting the installation of around 2,500 open-access rapid charge points for electric vehicles on the network by 2030; 
• Continuing to invest in infrastructure for non-motorised users such as walkers, cyclists and horse riders, including possibly acquiring more land to create physically segregated “link” paths and cycle lanes alongside and away from the highway; 
• Increasing proactive maintenance – fixing problems before they emerge – with the aim of reducing large repairs and disruption on the network, while also driving efficiency and roadworker safety through the increased use of autonomous plant on work sites; 
• Maximising opportunities to support biodiversity through initiatives such as the planting of an additional three million trees up to 2030. 

*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns  

Published On: 25/05/2023 16:00:00

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