The Road Haulage Association (RHA) in the UK has welcomed the Government’s announcement today (Tuesday 8 July) that key road projects in the Midlands and north of England will be allocated funding as part of a raft of measures to improve transport routes to boost growth.

Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director, said: “The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island, and the A46 Newark Bypass ministers have earmarked for backing are key projects we identified as vital for our sector in our The Future of Roads report. We have campaigned for them to be given funding and we are glad that the Government has listened.

“We’re also pleased to see support pledged for the M54 – M6 Link Road in Staffordshire and the A38 in Derby.

“Improving our roads will unlock economic potential and drive growth across the country and are crucial for facilitating the Government’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029. They will be key for our sector to play its part to help them meet that target and keep new households supplied with the goods, infrastructure and services they will need.

“Congestion costs the country £30.8bn a year in delays and disruption so it’s vital that the government invests in a road building programme that shortens journey times, better connects communities and lays the groundwork to boost business and create jobs.

“Ministers will shortly announce their long-term plans for improving our road networks in the upcoming third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3). We urge them to be ambitious when they set out their vision.”