Around 64,000 construction jobs are expected to be created after Highways England unveiled details of plans for a £27.4billion investment in road networks across the country.

Highways England will deliver £14 billion of projects improving the quality, capacity and safety of the motorways and major A roads that have helped keep the country going during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Almost £11 billion will go into improving every day journeys by repairing and replacing parts of the network, largely built in the 1960s and 70s.

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In a boost to the nation's recovery, Highways England said its plans would help support 64,000 construction industry jobs.

It pointed to its recent opening of the £1.4 billion project on the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon, which was delivered eight months ahead of schedule and on budget.

Highways England Chief Executive Jim O’Sullivan said: "Our network is a vital part of everyone’s life. It has served the country well during the pandemic, keeping supermarket shelves stocked and enabling key workers to get where they need to be.

"Over the next five years we will increase capacity where it is most needed and continue to upgrade more of the network which has suffered from decades of under-investment.

"We now have a strong track record of delivering new schemes and operating the network for the benefit of our customers and the communities we serve. The plan we're launching will protect and create jobs to aid the nation's recovery, and make journeys faster and more reliable for freight and road users."