The Civil Engineering Contractors Association is urging Government to mothball the A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark Bypass jobs rather than kill them off completely.

Ministers want to cut RIS3 capital spending over the first four years of the 2026-31 investment period, with the two enhancement schemes in the firing line and a further 2% squeeze proposed across other capital budgets.

CECA accepts that departments are under pressure to help fund the Government’s Defence Investment Plan and said targeting road enhancement spending was understandable.

But it warned cancelling Derby and Newark outright would throw away future traffic and economic benefits.

Instead, CECA wants both schemes kept warm in the pipeline so National Highways and contractors can revive them when funding and economic conditions improve.

The contractors’ body backed protecting maintenance and renewals cash to stop the strategic road network deteriorating and storing up bigger repair bills.

But it warned Government cannot keep squeezing enhancement spending as traffic levels rise.

CECA also called on the roads sector to drive down costs through smarter design, construction innovation and better commercial models that stop risk and cost overruns spiralling.

And it urged ministers to reopen the politically sensitive debate over road-user charging, fuel duty and vehicle taxation to unlock more private investment.

For the remaining 2% capital cut, CECA wants National Highways to work with contractors to target savings where they will do least damage.

It also said RIS4 pipeline planning and strategic studies should be protected to avoid creating another stop-start workload cliff.