Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031
Our 5 year strategy for investment in and management of the strategic road network from April 2026 to March 2031.
Documents
Details
This act paper sets out the government’s priorities for the strategic road network (SRN) in England from 2026 to 2031, known as Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3).
RIS3 shapes how England’s motorways and major A roads are operated, maintained, renewed and improved.
Investment in RIS3:
- supports the government’s growth and housing agenda
- increases the resilience of our transport infrastructure
- addresses long-standing congestion pinch points
- enables us to fix the parts of the network that are reaching the end of life
The strategy also sets out how £27 billion in funding will be invested into major renewals, enhancements, national programmes and funds to deliver RIS3 outcomes.
The vision sets a long-term plan for a safe, resilient, reliable and environmentally responsible SRN that underpins ambitions for economic growth. Six objectives guide RIS3:
- growing the economy
- improving safety for all
- achieving a level of network performance that meets customers’ needs
- providing a technology-enabled and enabling network
- providing a resilient network that is planned and managed for the long-term
- improving environmental outcomes
The performance specification in part 2:
- sets out the performance outcomes that the government is buying
- defines the KPIs, PIs and commitments that National Highways must meet
This investment strategy is required under the Infrastructure Act 2015.
RIS3 builds on the detail set out in the Draft RIS3.
See also:
- the SRN interim settlement 2025-2026
- the Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2) covering 2020-2025