The UK government has confirmed the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), committing more than £27 billion to the operation, maintenance, renewal and enhancement of England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN) between April 2026 and March 2031.
Published by the Department for Transport, the strategy sets out how the government intends to maintain and upgrade the 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads managed by National Highways, infrastructure widely regarded as the backbone of the UK’s freight, logistics and regional economic connectivity.
RIS3 represents the third five-year funding settlement established under the Infrastructure Act 2015, a legislative framework designed to provide long-term certainty to the highways supply chain, including engineering consultants, contractors, materials suppliers and technology providers involved in delivering major road schemes.
What the New Road Investment Strategy Means for the Construction Sector
The announcement signals the continuation of a long-term infrastructure delivery model where government funding cycles provide predictable pipelines of work for the highways sector. For contractors and infrastructure specialists, RIS3 effectively establishes the operational and capital framework guiding National Highways projects for the next five years.
In practical terms, the strategy combines three key priorities: maintaining ageing road infrastructure, increasing network capacity in strategic locations and improving resilience against climate risks and traffic growth. The programme also reinforces government ambitions to support economic growth, logistics connectivity and housing development through improved transport infrastructure.
RIS3 Investment Breakdown
| Investment Area | Funding Allocation |
|---|---|
| Total RIS3 investment | £27+ billion |
| Network operations, maintenance and renewals | £24.99 billion |
| Major asset renewals (structures and surfaces) | £8.4 billion |
| Network enhancement schemes | £3.8 billion |
| Lower Thames Crossing works | £1.65 billion |
| Inward investment infrastructure projects | £402 million |
Strategic Projects and Network Upgrades
Among the key schemes highlighted in RIS3 is the long-planned upgrade of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine route, which will deliver a continuous dual carriageway between the M6 at Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner. The project is expected to significantly improve east-west connectivity across northern England and increase resilience across the national freight network.
The strategy also includes funding to advance the Lower Thames Crossing, one of the largest road infrastructure projects currently planned in the UK, designed to strengthen freight movement between Kent, Essex and major ports including Dover and Felixstowe.
Among the key schemes highlighted in RIS3 is the long-planned upgrade of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine route, which will deliver a continuous dual carriageway between the M6 at Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner. The project is expected to significantly improve east-west connectivity across northern England and increase resilience across the national freight network.
The strategy also includes funding to advance the Lower Thames Crossing, one of the largest road infrastructure projects currently planned in the UK, designed to strengthen freight movement between Kent, Essex and major ports including Dover and Felixstowe.
For infrastructure contractors, these projects represent major long-term opportunities across design, engineering, construction and asset management, particularly within the National Highways delivery framework.
Regulatory and Institutional Framework
Road Investment Strategies operate under the statutory framework established by the Infrastructure Act 2015, which created National Highways as an arm’s-length government body responsible for managing England’s strategic road network.
Road Investment Strategies operate under the statutory framework established by the Infrastructure Act 2015, which created National Highways as an arm’s-length government body responsible for managing England’s strategic road network.
The governance model also assigns oversight roles to two independent organisations:
- Office of Rail and Road (ORR) – acting as the highways monitor with regulatory oversight
- Transport Focus – representing road user interests and providing independent scrutiny
This regulatory structure is intended to ensure both delivery efficiency and public accountability as major road infrastructure programmes are implemented.
Safety and Environmental Targets
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, RIS3 introduces performance targets aimed at improving road safety across the strategic network. The government has set National Highways a target of achieving a 7.5% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the SRN by the end of the programme period in 2031, measured against a 2022-2024 baseline.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, RIS3 introduces performance targets aimed at improving road safety across the strategic network. The government has set National Highways a target of achieving a 7.5% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the SRN by the end of the programme period in 2031, measured against a 2022-2024 baseline.
The strategy also aligns road investment with broader environmental commitments including the UK’s Carbon Budget, Environmental Improvement Plans and National Highways’ Net Zero strategy.
Major infrastructure programmes are therefore expected to incorporate climate resilience measures, biodiversity considerations and low-carbon construction practices as part of their delivery frameworks.
Industry Implications for Contractors and Infrastructure Suppliers
For the construction and engineering sector, RIS3 reinforces the long-standing role of highways investment as one of the most stable components of the UK infrastructure pipeline.
For the construction and engineering sector, RIS3 reinforces the long-standing role of highways investment as one of the most stable components of the UK infrastructure pipeline.
Five-year funding settlements provide greater certainty for contractors investing in plant, workforce training and supply chain partnerships, allowing major infrastructure programmes to be planned and delivered over longer time horizons.
The strategy also highlights the growing complexity of delivering national infrastructure programmes in an environment shaped by climate risk, ageing assets and increasing demand for resilient logistics networks.
For construction companies operating in the highways sector, RIS3 therefore represents both a major investment programme and a signal of how infrastructure delivery priorities are evolving across the UK.
Evidence-Based Summary
The £27 billion Road Investment Strategy 3 marks one of the largest long-term infrastructure commitments currently underway in the UK transport sector. By combining maintenance funding, capacity upgrades and safety improvements, the programme aims to modernise England’s strategic road network while supporting national economic growth.
The £27 billion Road Investment Strategy 3 marks one of the largest long-term infrastructure commitments currently underway in the UK transport sector. By combining maintenance funding, capacity upgrades and safety improvements, the programme aims to modernise England’s strategic road network while supporting national economic growth.
For the construction industry, RIS3 provides a clear signal that highways infrastructure will remain a core element of the UK’s infrastructure delivery pipeline throughout the second half of the decade.
| Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
