£27 billion road ‘renewal’ plan: National Highways to fix ageing motorways and A-roads
Thu, 02 Apr 2026
The Government has announced a massive £27 billion investment to repair and upgrade England’s crumbling strategic road network over the next five years.
The funding, to be delivered by National Highways, is aimed at tackling "decades of wear and tear" on motorways and major A-roads. Rather than focusing solely on building new bypasses, the road investment strategy prioritises the renewal of existing infrastructure that is reaching the end of its life.
For many motorists, the news will be a welcome relief following a winter of record-breaking potholes and deteriorating surfaces. National Highways has confirmed that a significant portion of the £27bn will go toward:
Resurfacing: Replacing thousands of miles of worn-out road surfaces with quieter, more durable materials.
Bridge repairs: Strengthening and maintaining over 1000 bridges and structures across the network.
Safety upgrades: Improving barriers, drainage and lighting to reduce accidents and prevent flooding-related closures.
The plan also includes a commitment to technological renewals, such as upgrading the sensors and cameras used to manage traffic flow on smart motorways — though no new all lane running schemes are included in this specific funding pot.
The move has been broadly welcomed by road safety experts, who have long argued that fixing existing tarmac is more beneficial to the average driver than headline-grabbing new builds.
“Drivers rely on well-maintained roads for safe journeys, and years of underinvestment have left too many routes in a poor and potentially dangerous condition," says William Porter, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at IAM RoadSmart.
"This focus on long-term, preventative maintenance is a positive step, but investment must go hand in hand with measures that improve driver behaviour and road design. A truly effective road network is one that is not only reliable and resilient but consistently supports safer driving and reduces the risk of collisions for everyone using it.”
Where will the money go?
Key projects mentioned in the renewal plan include major maintenance on the M25, M6 and M1, as well as significant upgrades to the A1, A14 and A303.
While the investment is intended to make journeys smoother in the long term, the sheer scale of the renewal means motorists should prepare for a significant increase in overnight closures and contraflows over the next 60 months.
Despite the record sum, some motoring groups have pointed out that this £27bn is specifically for Strategic Roads (motorways and major A-roads managed by the government). It does not directly address the multi-billion pound repair backlog on local council-managed roads, where the majority of the UK's pothole damage occurs.
The Transport Secretary stated that the investment is "essential for the economy," claiming it will support over 60,000 jobs and ensure the UK's road network remains "fit for the future."
Which major routes are being upgraded?
| Scheme | Region | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A120 Wix Bypass – Eastbound and Westbound | East | This section of the A120 is a worn‑out legacy concrete road that needs full reconstruction. |
| A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet | East | New 10-mile dual carriageway section between Cambridge and the M1, including 3 grade separated junctions. |
| A47 Blofield to North Burlingham | East | Upgrading of the existing A47 to dual carriageway between Blofield and North Burlingham, east of Norwich. |
| A47 Great Ouse Refurbishment | East | Replacing the ageing central spans of the Great Ouse Bridge. |
| A47 North Tuddenham to Easton | East | Dualling of the existing A47 single carriageway between Norwich and Dereham. |
| A47 Thickthorn Junction | East | Two new slip roads that will connect the A47 with the A11. |
| A38 Derby Junctions | East Midlands | Replacement of 3 roundabouts on A38 with grade-separated interchanges. |
| A46 concrete reconstruction | East Midlands | This project will deliver reconstruction of the affected section to provide a safer, more resilient, and more reliable route. |
| A46 Newark Bypass | East Midlands | Dualling of the existing A46 single carriageway between Farndon and Winthorpe roundabouts in Newark. |
| A52 Nottingham Junctions | East Midlands | Improving capacity at several junctions along the A52 in Nottingham. |
| A180 Brocklesby Interchange to Barnetby Interchange | Lincolnshire | Ageing concrete road that requires full reconstruction. The road is a key route serving Immingham Docks and the Port of Grimsby. |
| Lofthouse Interchange (M1 J42 / M62 J29) | North East | The 4 structures at Lofthouse Interchange are deteriorating, affecting safety and load capacity. The project will deliver major concrete repairs, bearing replacements, steelwork painting and drainage upgrades. |
| A66 Northern Trans-Pennine | North East, North West, and Yorkshire | Dualling of the remaining single-carriageway sections of the A66 between the M6 Junction 40 and A1(M) Junction 53, and improvements to the junctions at Penrith and Scotch Corner. |
| M55 Broughton Circle | North West | The Broughton Circle and D’Urton Lane structures are deteriorating and need renewal. |
| M6 Lune Gorge | North West | Renewing ageing bridges along a 10km stretch between Junctions 37 and 38. |
| M60 / M62 / M66 Simister Island | North West | Improving capacity of the intersection between the M60 Junction 18, M62 and M66. |
| Mottram Moor Link Road and A57 Link Road | North West | New dual carriageway bypass from M67 Junction 4, around Mottram, and new single carriageway link road. |
| Arundel Railway Bridge Replacement | South East | A viable replacement option is currently being developed. |
| M25 Junction 10 | South East | Improving capacity of the junction with the A3 Wisley Interchange. |
| M27 J5-7 concrete overlay | South East | Upgrades to the central barrier and drainage to extend the life of this section of the M27 by around 40 years. |
| M271 Redbridge Junction 2–3 Northbound and Southbound | South East | The M271 between J2 and J3 is an ageing concrete road with significant deterioration, causing safety issues and frequent reactive repairs. |
| M3 Junction 9 | South East | Upgrade to the junction to allow free movement from the A34 to the M3. |
| A417 missing link | South West | New dual carriageway connecting the 2 dual carriageway sections of the A417 near Birdlip in Gloucestershire. |
| M32 Eastville Viaduct renewal | South West | In need of significant renewal to ensure it remains safe and reliable. |
| M5 J19-20 Wynhol Viaduct | South West | Requires significant work to address ageing structures and ensure the route remains safe and reliable for road users. |
| A46 Coventry Junctions | West Midlands | Upgrading the Binley and Walsgrave junctions on the A46 to grade separated. |
| M42 Eastway Bridge | West Midlands | This project will address these structural issues, keep the bridge safe and ensure reliable access to the NEC and surrounding area. |
| M42 Junction 6 | West Midlands | New dual carriageway link road from a new junction (5a) on the M42, to an upgraded M42 Junction 6. |
| M54 to M6 Link Road | West Midlands | New dual carriageway link road between the M54 Junction 1 and M6 Junction 11. |
| M180 Junction 2-3 Eastbound and Westbound | Yorkshire | An ageing concrete road that requires full reconstruction. |
| M62 Goole and Airmyn refurbishment | Yorkshire | Refurbishment of 2 bridges. This project will repair the structures, renew key components, and install measures to protect them from future damage. |
Which local authority-led schemes are currently underway?
| Scheme | Description |
|---|---|
| A10 corridor scheme in Broxbourne | A10 junction improvements plus supporting sustainable transport measures. |
| A140-A1120 Earl Stonham | Realignment of the A140 / A1120 junction at Earl Stonham village. |
| A229 Blue Bell Hill Improvements | Upgrade of junctions at either end of Bluebell Hill: A229 / M2 J3 and A229 / M20 J6. |
| A259 south coast corridor | Measures to enhance access to public transport and active travel facilities alongside localised road and junction capacity improvements. |
| A326 Waterside improvements | Improvements to the A326 Corridor connecting into the M27 at Junction 2 and serving the Waterside area of the New Forest. |
| A379 Bridge Road (formerly Exeter Outer Ring Road) | Major structural renewals on a key arterial route over the River Exe. |
| A426 / A4071 Avon Mill / Hunters Lane improvements | Enlargement of Avon Mill roundabout / provision of new roundabout at A426 Newbold Rd-Hunters Lane / new short length of dual carriageway between the 2 roundabouts including new bridge over the River Avon. |
| A43 Northampton | Phase 3 of dualling of the A43 between the A45 and A14. Duals the stretch between Overstone Grange Roundabout and Holcot / Sywell Roundabout. |
| A650 Tong Street | Carriageway widening to 2 lanes in each direction and improvements to active travel facilities |
| M5 Junction 28 | Improvements to junction to mitigate impacts of Culm Garden Village development. |
| Northam Rail Bridge | Provision of a new, widened, replacement bridge on the A3024 corridor in Southampton. |
| Norwich Western Link | New link to the west of Norwich |
| Shalesmoor Gateway | Replacement of existing Shalesmoor roundabout and widening carriageway links; and upgrades to junction at Rutland Road / Penistone Road in Sheffield. |
| Sunderland strategic transport corridor phase 4 | Improvements to the A1231 between the new bridge over the River Wear and the junction with the A19. |
| Vauxhall Way improvements phase 1 | Dualling the existing Vauxhall Way to increase capacity |
| Wigan East West | A link road connecting the A49 at Wigan to the A58 at Hindley. |
