The Government has set out its priorities for the strategic road network (SRN) in England from 2026 to 2031, in the third road investment strategy (RIS3).

Meeting the needs of road users will be at the heart of RIS3 and will inform its strategic objectives, says the Department for Transport (DfT).

Through Transport Focus research, it recognises that users of the network want to see better management of roadworks, better management of unplanned delays such as collisions and breakdowns, and better information about that unplanned disruption.

They also want to see good road surfaces, safer design and regular upkeep of the network, alongside more reliable, shorter, journey times.

These priorities mirror some of the wants highlighted by fleets at the June meeting of the Fleet News Fleet200 Strategy Network. 

The Government will also expect National Highways to work with all users to ensure the diverse needs of all road users are met.

This includes supporting walking, wheeling and cycling, particularly where the SRN interacts with cycleways, footways, bridleways and local roads.

The SRN, says the draft strategy, must also meet the specific needs of the freight and logistics sector, including in areas such as alleviating weight and height restrictions, improving driver facilities, and the timing of maintenance and renewals activities.

Prioritising network performance on key freight routes, while also understanding the impact of freight on local road diversion routes, is essential to streamline operations and boost UK productivity, it added.

Writing the foreword for RIS3, transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said that road travel is the “backbone of our transport system”.

“Our motorways and trunk roads are the economic arteries of the country, which are essential to the delivery of a more productive economy,” she added.

“In turn, this results in economic growth and better living standards for people in every part of the country. But too often, we see delays, bottlenecks, and deteriorating infrastructure that stifle progress.”

With the publication of the draft strategy, she says the plan commits the Government to changing that. She explained: “The third road investment strategy will form a core component of the Government’s new 10-year Infrastructure Strategy, which sets out a long-term vision for nationally significant infrastructure that supports sustainable growth, connectivity, and resilience.

“Within this framework, published in June 2025, the government expects National Highways to play a central role; not only as the operator of the strategic road network, but as a key delivery partner contributing to broader national objectives.”

RIS3, she says, will also align with the Government’s environmental goals, supporting economic growth, national resilience, and environmental sustainability over the long term.

“It is essential that the road sector plays its part in the goal of decarbonising the economy as well as being resilient to the effects of a changing climate,” she added.  

National Highways, says the report, will play its part in the low-carbon use of the road network to contribute to overall environmental ambitions.

For example, National Highways will ensure its light fleet (including traffic officer vehicles) is 100% electric by 2030, roll out LED lighting across the network and continue to deliver on its wider commitments set out in its Net Zero Carbon Plan. 

Total funding for RIS3 outlined in the report is £24.9 billion. The final RIS strategy will define how this funding is split between capital and resource expenditure and outline the main categories of spend, including the schemes that will be delivered.

Some funding within the RIS3 settlement for National Highways may in turn be passed to third parties, such as local authorities, for the purposes of delivering elements of RIS3 such as aspects of the operations or potentially scheme construction.

Richard Smith, managing director of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said the £24.9bn in funding represented a 10% reduction in the funding allocated to the previous five-year RIS2 period (2020-25), which is likely to “hamper” the Government’s mission to deliver economic growth.

“This is a real missed opportunity, and we will still continue to make the case to ministers that ambitious investment in new roads can drive growth, particularly at a time when the economy is stalling and the costs of living and doing business are so high,” he added.

“This lack of prioritising new roads investment will have long-term impacts on haulage, coach and van businesses, with congestion costing the UK economy more than £30bn a year in delays and lost productivity.

“We’re clear that new roads are a vital enabler to boost business and better connect communities – indeed the Government’s ambitious housebuilding programme to deliver 1.5m new homes by 2029 will rely on a fit-for-purposes national infrastructure.

“We are pleased that some key new schemes were given the go-ahead earlier this year after we’d campaigned for them – Lower Thames Crossing, A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme, the A46 Bypass at Newark and the M60 Simister Island.”

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “The cancellation of some major road projects appears to be the reason why funding for the next road investment strategy has reduced, and only time will tell what impact this has on congestion and driver satisfaction.

“Tackling well-known pinch points on the network is now more important than ever to improve journey times.” 

He added: “We hope the focus on improving the standard of existing carriageways results in fewer potholes and faded road markings, both of which drivers tell us are important to them when it comes to motorways and major A-roads.

“It’s particularly welcome that National Highways is being told by the Government to proactively manage its network through the use of preventative maintenance techniques, keeping roads in better condition for longer.”

Read the report:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a87aa6bceafd8d0d96a11f/dft-draft-ris-3.pdf