Road investment strategy: post-2020
Sets out the process developing the next 'Road investment strategy' to continue long-term improvements to our motorways and major roads.
The first Road investment strategy (RIS 1), announced in December 2014, covered investment in England鈥檚 motorways and major roads 鈥� the strategic road network (SRN) 鈥� during the 2015 to 2020 road period. It outlined a multi-year investment plan covering costs of operating, maintaining, renewing and enhancing the SRN (including more than 100 major schemes) funded by 拢15.2 billion of public money. This was the initial step in a long-term programme to improve England鈥檚 motorways and major roads.
The process was repeated in developing the second road investment strategy (RIS2) covering the second road period 2020 to 2025. Another 拢24.5 billion will be spent during the second RIS period.
A one-year interim settlement (2025 to 2026) is now in place to maintain stability of delivery and network performance while work continues to develop the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3).
RIS3 will cover the 5-year period from April 2026 to March 2031, ensuring long-term improvements to the road network can continue alongside essential operations, maintenance and renewal. The process for developing RIS3 follows 3 key phases:
- research
- decision
- mobilisation
Road investment strategy 3
To develop RIS3, we are building on a robust research phase to ensure investment and performance decisions are based on the best available evidence. The main sources of information for this research have been:聽
- National Highways route strategies process聽
- output from ongoing strategic studies into complex problems facing the road network that may need to be addressed over multiple road periods聽
- 迟丑别鈥�RIS鈥痯ipeline 鈥� schemes identified in鈥�RIS2鈥痶hat are being developed for potential delivery in future RISs, but are not committed
Strategic road network: interim settlement 2025 to 2026
The government is committed to continuing the key elements and principles behind this long-term approach and is developing the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3).听RIS3聽will be informed by the next stage of the Spending Review, reporting in late spring 2025.
To allow the development of these longer-term plans in alignment with the government鈥檚 Spending Review, the arrangements for 2025 to 2026 are covered by an interim settlement.聽
Road investment strategy 2
The second road investment strategy, influenced by the feasibility and research reports listed, was released on 11 March 2020.
Research phase: Strategic Road Network
To develop a RIS 2 that meets our aims and ensure our investment decisions are the right ones, a robust research phase will need to be completed. The main sources of information for this research will be the 6 strategic studies and the programme of refreshed route strategies covering the entire network.
The strategic studies address some of the biggest challenges facing the road network, including the:
- Northern Trans-Pennine 鈥� the A66 and A69 corridors
- Trans-Pennine tunnel 鈥� linking Manchester to Sheffield
- Manchester north-west quadrant 鈥� the M60 from junctions 8 to 18
- A1 east of England 鈥� from the M25 to Peterborough
- Oxford to Cambridge expressway
- M25 south-west quadrant
Proposals for the Strategic Road Network (SRN) and its current and future needs.
Research phase: Northern Trans-Pennine
Research phase: Trans-Pennine tunnel
Research phase: Manchester north-west quadrant
Research phase: A1 east of England
Research phase: M25 south-west quadrant
Research phase: aims and process
Announcements
Updates to this page
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The draft third road investment strategy (RIS3) has been added.
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Strategic road network: interim settlement 2025 to 2026 added.
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Added Preparing the third road investment strategy (RIS3).
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Final road investment strategy for 2020 to 2025 added.
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Government objectives and research publications added.
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Strategic outline business case for the Oxford to Cambridge expressway added.
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Consultation on shaping the future of England鈥檚 strategic roads.
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M25 south-west quadrant strategic study reports.
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Stage 3 strategic studies.
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Trans-Pennine tunnel, A1 east of England, and Oxford to Cambridge Expressway studies.
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'Road investment strategy post 2020: planning ahead' published.
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Northern Trans-Pennine and Manchester north-west quadrant strategic study reports published.
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First published.