Chancellor Philip Hammond has pledged £30 billion to improve the infrastructure of Britain's motorways and major roads.

The announcement was made as Mr Hammond prepares to deliver the last Budget before Brexit.

A portion of the funding will be made available to local authorities to assist with urgent repairs, potholes and bridge works.

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: "I welcome Philip Hammond's announcement of such as significant cash injection to improve our country’s road network. While public works and infrastructure are the building blocks of Britain, our recent Essential Infrastructure report found that, in real terms, £4.16 billion, was spent on the road network in 2017 - £64 per person. That represents a £2 per person drop from £66 per person in 1997. As a result, the country is in desperate need of some support for the existing infrastructure network and practical improvements that could make a significant difference to people's lives day to day. Sadly, when it comes to infrastructure, more often than not ministers and ex-ministers seem to prefer vanity projects and blue-sky thinking. We need traffic islands – not Boris Bridges."

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A portion of the funding will be made available to local authorities to assist with urgent repairs, potholes and bridge works.

Mr Robinson added: "Although a commitment to help local authorities make improvements is very promising, we need a workforce capable of delivering this change. Last year Highways England estimated we need an additional 12,000 people working across the strategic road network within the next four years – a 50% increase on the current workforce. With Brexit now just five months away, it is crucial we get serious about the skills shortage. If the government does not find innovative ways of attracting fresh talent to the sector, we run the risk of our road networks grinding to a halt."

(CM/MH)