The launch of Highways England will deliver the largest investment in England’s major roads when it launches on 1 April.
The government-owned company, which replaces the Highways Agency, has laid out plans to invest £11 billion to improve England’s motorways and major A-roads.
In its first five years, Highways England plans to invest in 112 major improvements, including 15 smart motorway projects to provide 280 extra miles of capacity and the resurfacing of the majority of the network.
It says it will also provide a more accessible road system by delivering more than 150 new cycling facilities and crossings and aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the network by 40 per cent compared to 2010 figures.
Highways England is “committed to a strategic road network that is far safer, more free-flowing and more integrated and supports economic growth across the country”, said Chief Executive Graham Dalton.
“We will be focusing on customers, providing better travel information before and during journeys, improving safety and reducing the impact of roadworks,” he added.
The company will be responsible for 4,300 miles of network, and oversight will come from the Office of Rail and Road – which will also act as the watchdog for road users.
