The government has confirmed the schemes in its £27bn investment programme to overhaul England’s roads network.

The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will, according to transport secretary Heidi Alexander, deliver “the biggest overhaul to transport in a generation”.

Spread across five years, the plan aims to put more money into maintaining the network to help deliver smoother, more reliable journeys for drivers, businesses and freight operators by resurfacing roads, fixing potholes and replacing worn-out stretches of motorway.

RIS3 will fund major schemes that unlock growth and improve connectivity across the country and allow National Highways (NH) to resurface more than 9,000km worth of motorway and major A-road lanes – almost a quarter of the network.

These include the dualling of the A66 between Cumbria and North Yorkshire, and government support to bring private investment into the Lower Thames Crossing – a new road crossing east of London that will ease congestion and improve connections across the South-East.

A record £8.4bn will be spent on repairing and renewing England’s motorways and major A-roads, on top of £7.3bn already pledged by government at the Spending Review for local authorities to fix potholes and invest in long-term measures to maintain local roads.

Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “For too long this country has failed to tackle and fix our crumbling infrastructure, but this huge £27bn investment in our roads will secure the future of our road network for years to come.

“Not only are we investing in renewing our roads, meaning smoother and faster journeys for drivers, we are getting on with investing into brand new projects and fixing potholes, which will deliver benefits across the country from Norwich to Manchester.”

Marie-Claude Hemming, director of policy at the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), welcomed the news.

“It brings to the sector what it has needed for some time – certainty,” she said. “A funded five-year pipeline enables the industry to plan, invest, and deliver with greater confidence, which is essential for the supply chain, for growth, for freight, for housing, and for regional connectivity.

“It is also right to see a greater emphasis on maintaining our aging roads and infrastructure, as well as investing in major projects like the A66 and Lower Thames Crossing.

“The opportunity now is accelerated delivery, and if the government can match its commitment with the speed and consistency required, then RIS3 can be a success for the country and its communities who rely on the road network every day.”

Schemes to be developed during RIS3 include:

• A66 Northern Trans-Pennine - North East, North West, and Yorkshire: Dualling of the remaining single-carriageway sections of the A66 between the M6 Junction 40 and A1(M) Junction 53, and improvements to the junctions at Penrith and Scotch Corner.
• M180 Junction 2-3 Eastbound and Westbound – Yorkshire
• A180 Brocklesby Interchange to Barnetby Interchange – Lincolnshire, a key route serving Immingham Docks and the Port of Grimsby.
• M62 Goole and Airmyn refurbishment (two bridges)  - Yorkshire 
• Mottram Moor Link Road and A57 Link Road - North West:  new dual carriageway bypass from M67 Junction 4, around Mottram, and new single carriageway link road.
• M60 / M62 / M66 Simister Island - North West: improving capacity of the intersection between the M60 Junction 18, M62 and M66.
• M6 Lune Gorge - North West:  renewing ageing bridges along a 10km stretch between Junctions 37 and 38.
• M54 to M6 Link Road - West Midlands: new dual carriageway link road between the M54 Junction 1 and M6 Junction 11.
• M42 Junction 6 - West Midlands: new dual carriageway link road from a new junction (5a) on the M42, to an upgraded M42 Junction 6.
• M42 Eastway Bridge - West Midlands; addressing structural issues, keep the bridge safe and ensure reliable access to the NEC and surrounding area.
• A47 Blofield to North Burlingham     East      Upgrading of the existing A47 to dual carriageway between Blofield and North Burlingham, east of Norwich.
• Arundel Railway Bridge Replacement - South East: a viable replacement option is currently being developed.
• A417 missing link - South West: new dual carriageway connecting the 2 dual carriageway sections of the A417 near Birdlip in Gloucestershire.
• M32 Eastville Viaduct renewal - South West: significant renewal.

Click here for an interactive map of the RIS3 schemes.