The Atkins Jacobs Joint Venture, working with PwC, will develop business and delivery plans, setting out the case for multi-year investment across England’s strategic road network of motorways and major A-roads.
The recommendations will look to improve road safety, capacity, quality and user experience, while also supporting National Highways’ commitment to enabling economic growth and delivering net-zero road maintenance and construction by 2040.
The present highways funding crisis and project delays will have a substantial knock-on effect to the projected plan for RIS3 (2025-2030).
According to a recent National Autdit Office report already committed elements of the RIS2 programme have soared to £11.5bn from the £5.5bn estimate in 2020 and many projects will be shunted into RIS3.
Atkins U.K. and Europe CEO Richard Robinson said: “The successful delivery of critical infrastructure requires strategic long-term planning and a focus on outcomes that benefit people, communities and businesses, while balancing the needs of the natural environment.”
30 schemes under consideration for RIS3
The work will inform the Department for Transport’s evaluation before it makes a final investment decision in late 2024, with the delivery of RIS3 starting in April 2025.
