n real terms, even the 02 billion injection will not
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bring road spending up to 1974 levels. In the light of environmental objections, can you ever foresee road spending returning to those levels?
The allocation of £1,814m for spending on trunk roads in England 1990-91 compares with £320m in 1974-75. The spend next year, at today's prices, and on as consistent a basis as possible, is £375m higher in real terms than in 1974-75.
Total expenditure on the roads network, when bridge and road maintenance costs are taken into account, is running at a record high and is set to increase in the coming years.
Environmental concerns have always, and will continue to be, taken into account when designing roads. As with this present programme, new roads can actually ease the effects of traffic on the environment by relieving congestion and by removing traffic from urban areas.
he British motorway network is a fraction of the size of the motor way networks in the countries of our European counterparts. Traffic densities on Britain's motorways are among the highest in Europe.