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New Plans to Ease Road Congestion

The government has announced new plans to ease congestion on the UK's roads. In a recent statement Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly outlined a future strategy that will aim to improve Britain's road network.

The plan announced this month includes making available £6 billion to fund improvements to roads in England over the next six years. This investment is due to fund a number of strategies including widening roads, improving junctions and opening motorway hard shoulders as an extra lane to be used at busy times of the day.

The most controversial part of the plan is an extension to congestion charges and the possibility of introducing tolled motorways. Congestion charges already in place in central London are likely to be copied in cities throughout the country. New roads may be funded by charging for their use. In response a major survey of drivers has shown that over half oppose the introduction of tolled motorways to the UK.

In the statement Ruth Kelly said "The greatest barrier to reliable journeys is congestion. It is frustrating for motorists and has serious consequences for the economy and the environment. So we are taking a number of steps to tackle it, focussing our efforts over the next decade on where congestion is worst - on our urban roads and motorways."

"I am today announcing that £6 billion is available to fund improvements to national strategic roads in England in the period up to 2014. These improvements could include an innovative mix of road widening, opening up the hard shoulder and junction improvements."

"While some road building is needed to provide extra capacity, we must also consider how to add capacity to existing roads. That is why I am exploring where the hard shoulder could be used to provide extra space on the motorway network. Where we add new capacity either by using the hard shoulder, or by widening roads, I am particularly interested to see what role tolled or car-share lanes could play to give motorists a more reliable journey."