Collection

Road investment strategy: 2015 to 2020

These documents set out a long-term approach to improve England’s motorways and major roads (the 'strategic road network').

The first ‘Road investment strategy’ (RIS 1) outlines a long-term programme for our motorways and major roads with the stable funding needed to plan ahead.

The RIS 1 comprises:

  • a long-term vision for England’s motorways and major roads, outlining how we will create smooth, smart and sustainable roads
  • a multi-year investment plan that will be used to improve the network and create better roads for users
  • high-level objectives for the first roads period 2015 to 2020

Accompanying the RIS 1 are an overview and leaflet which summarise its contents and anticipated impact.

Over the next 5 years the first RIS will:

  • see £15.2 billion invested in over 100 major schemes to enhance, renew and improve the network
  • help prevent over 2500 deaths or serious injuries on the network
  • build over 1300 additional lane miles
  • improve 200 sections of the network for cyclists
  • benefit up to 250,000 people by reducing the noise impact of England’s motorways and major roads

The government agreed to establish the RIS 1, worth £15 billion at the 2013 Spending Round alongside:

The RIS 1 is one of a number of reforms that the government is making to motorways and major roads.

DfT has produced infographics about the RIS.

In November 2015, the government outlined plans to develop the next RIS — known as ‘RIS 2’ — covering the second road period post 2020.

Policy documents

Feasibility studies

The government has agreed to identify and fund solutions to improve some of the most notorious and long-standing road hot spots in the country. We set up 6 feasibility studies examining problems and identifying potential schemes on the strategic road network. The outcomes of these studies informed our ‘Road investment strategy’ (RIS 1) and particularly the ‘RIS investment plan’.

Analysis: economic

Analysis: understanding the drivers of road travel

Analysis: strategic road network statistics

Analysis: social research

Published 1 December 2014
Last updated 12 March 2015 + show all updates
  1. New act paper and supporting documents added alongside feasibility study reports.

  2. First published.