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 (RIS1), announced in December 2014, covered investment in England’s motorways and major roads – the strategic road network (SRN) – 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 £17.7 billion of public money. This was the initial step in a long-term programme to improve England’s 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 £23 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).
Road investment strategy 3
The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will cover the 5-year period from April 2026 to March 2031.
RIS3 is backed by funding of £27 billion to:
- support the government’s ambitions for growth and housing
- strengthen the resilience of the SRN
- tackle long‑standing congestion hotspots
- allow repairs and renewals to parts of the network that are approaching the end of their operational life
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). RIS3 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’s Spending Review, the arrangements for 2025 to 2026 are covered by an interim settlement.
Road investment strategy 2
The second road investment strategy, influenced by the feasibility and research reports listed, was released on 11 March 2020.
RIS2 research phase: Strategic Road Network
To develop a RIS2 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 – the A66 and A69 corridors
- Trans-Pennine tunnel – linking Manchester to Sheffield
- Manchester north-west quadrant – the M60 from junctions 8 to 18
- A1 east of England – 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.
RIS2 research phase: Northern Trans-Pennine
RIS2 research phase: Trans-Pennine tunnel
RIS2 research phase: Manchester north-west quadrant
RIS2 research phase: A1 east of England
RIS2 research phase: M25 south-west quadrant
RIS2 research phase: aims and process
Updates to this page
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Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) 2026 to 2031 published.
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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’s 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.