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Strategic road investment

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Dec 2022 Closed: 29 Feb 2024 7 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

The strategic road network in England comprises more than 4,300 miles of motorways and major A-roads. The Department for Transport plans improvements to these roads through five-year road investment strategies, and sets priorities for the strategic road network. This inquiry will look into how well the current Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) is being managed, and … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Strategic road investment HC 904 27 Jul 2023 14 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
11 Recommendation Sixth Report - Strategic road investment Accepted in Part

Implement robust measures to assess deliverability and anticipate risks in future RIS portfolios

The Government should implement more robust and transparent measures to assess deliverability when setting a RIS so that a wider range of stakeholders can flag risks to completing projects on time. We are scrutinising the draft revised National Networks National Policy Statement in a separate inquiry, but regardless of what … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating that existing expert involvement (ORR, IPA) is adequate for assessing deliverability. It commits to continue managing portfolio and project risks, citing existing action plans for DCO risks and mitigation strategies for inflation.
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Department for Transport
14 Recommendation Sixth Report - Strategic road investment Accepted in Part

Introduce a live dashboard providing up-to-date information on all RIS project costs and timelines

The Government should work with National Highways to introduce a “live” project dashboard which provides up-to-date information on each project in the RIS 1, RIS 2 and subsequent RIS portfolios. The dashboard should provide information on original and current: costs; Start of Work date; Open for Traffic date; and planning … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in principle, agreeing to work with National Highways and the ORR to explore opportunities for more frequent public project reporting in a single dashboard, acknowledging that a truly 'live' system would not be practical.
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Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
29 Mar 2023 Darren Oldham · Transport for the North, Emma Ward CBE · Department for Transport, Kate Cohen · Department for Transport, Maria Machancoses · Midlands Connect, Mrs Naomi Green · England's Economic Heartland, Richard Holden MP · Department for Transport View ↗
1 Mar 2023 Edmund King · The AA, Guy Dangerfield · Transport Focus, Jonathan Walker · Logistics UK, Lisa Hopkinson · Transport for Quality of Life, Professor Glenn Lyons · University of the West of England, Ralph Smyth · Transport Action Network, Sharon Kindleysides · Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport View ↗
1 Feb 2023 Dame Bernadette Kelly DCB · Department for Transport, Emma Ward · Department for Transport, Nick Harris · National Highways View ↗

Who gave evidence

16 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Dame Bernadette Kelly DCB · Permanent Secretary Department for Transport 1
Darren Oldham · Director for Rail and Road Transport for the North 1
Edmund King · President The AA 1
Emma Ward · Director General for Roads and Local Transport Department for Transport 1
Emma Ward CBE Department for Transport 1
Guy Dangerfield · Head of Transport User Strategy Transport Focus 1
Jonathan Walker · Head of Cities and Infrastructure Policy Logistics UK 1
Kate Cohen · Director for Roads and Projects Delivery Infrastr… Department for Transport 1
Lisa Hopkinson · Associate Transport for Quality of Life 1
Maria Machancoses · Chief Executive Midlands Connect 1
Mrs Naomi Green · Managing Director England's Economic Heartland 1
Nick Harris · Chief Executive National Highways 1
Professor Glenn Lyons · Professor of Future Mobility University of the West of England 1
Ralph Smyth · Consultant Transport Action Network 1
Richard Holden MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Transport 1
Sharon Kindleysides · Chief Executive Officer Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Jun 2023 — Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, relating to pla…
19 Apr 2023 — Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Roads, Department for…
29 Mar 2023 — Correspondence from the Chair of the Transport to the Chief Executive, National…
29 Mar 2023 — Correspondence from the Chief Executive, National Highways, relating to strateg…
1 Mar 2023 — Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport, relating…