RAC comments on Highways England plans for new 'expressways'

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “The provision for new expressway schemes has the potential to transform some of the country’s most congested and frustrating roads, including the A14 in Cambridgeshire and A303 through Hampshire and Devon. However, motorists will want to know such multi-billion pound projects have been fully budgeted for if they are to believe that they will become a reality, rather than just an empty promise. The devil of the new proposals will be in the detail – what rules will apply to these new types of highway? And how will they be designed in a way that is safe for motorists? A clear national standard on their operation will need to be looked at.

“Motorists will be hoping that the arrival of Highways England and the renewed focus on, and publicity of, the country’s strategic road network heralds a new era for improving our major routes. The additional accountability promised by the creation of a state-owned company should deliver improvements quicker and at a lower cost to the taxpayer, but only time will tell.”