Government initiative to improve roads across England

Drones and 3D printing technology are being explored to fix potholes, while councils receive funding to improve traffic light systems to cut congestion and emissions as part of a multimillion-pound scheme.

The funding will see councils across England receive a share of £15m to improve their traffic light systems, after the government committed to funding this project in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

In addition to the funding announcement, the government has also published findings from a new initiative, which aims to encourage more work with small and medium enterprises outside of the transport sector to speed up research into new ways to fix potholes.

This scheme, called the Digital Intelligence Brokerage (DIB), has already identified a range of measures, including the use of graphite nanoparticles in asphalt to reduce surface cracks, the use of bio-bitumen materials to create environmentally friendly road surfaces, and automated repair operations to minimise risk to road maintenance workers.

Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said: ‘Whether you’re a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian, every road-user across our country deserves the best possible journey. That’s why, despite already having some of the best and safest roads in the world, this government is providing millions of pounds to improve them further still.

‘This vital funding and work will cut journey times for millions of people, reduce emissions and keep the UK at the forefront of technological developments in roads maintenance as we continue to invest in local economies and build back both better and greener from the pandemic.’

RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, added: ‘Additional investment to cut congestion and make pothole repairs better for the future is very welcome. Improving traffic lights can make a significant difference to local roads by efficiently maximising the number of vehicles that can safely pass through junctions while hitting a pothole can be an expensive and even a dangerous experience.

‘We look forward to seeing how drivers and road users more widely can benefit from the use of 21st-century technology to repair their local roads more quickly.’

Photo by Dimitry Anikin