Graham Dalton, the chief executive for the Highways Agency, will be leaving his post in the summer after seven years in the position. Throughout his spell in charge, Dalton has led the agency through times of both financial constraint and growing ambition. Mr Dalton said: 'It has been a privilege to lead the Highways Agency through such an exciting time. 'I am leaving the business in good shape with a great team of people and an unprecedented five year fixed investment plan. 'Highways England, which will come into being in April following Royal Assent of the government's Infrastructure Bill, will need a chief executive who can commit to delivering the first Roads Investment Strategy which runs to 2020. 'I will work with chairman Colin Matthews to ensure an orderly handover to my successor in the summer.î Mr Matthews noted that Graham had led the Highways Agency to a point where they are now able to 'confront the fresh opportunities and challenges in the government's Road Investment Strategyî, and that he had been a 'successfulî CEO. The Highways Agency is responsible for the operation, maintenance and improvement of the English strategic road network.æ The new Infrastructure Bill _ which is currently going through The House of Commons _ will require delivery of over 100 new road schemes between now and the end of the next parliament. Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport, said: "I would like to thank Graham on behalf of the Department for his sterling service both to the Highways Agency and the government. "Over the past seven years Graham ha_s worked tirelessly to oversee the delivery of vital upgrades on our strategic road network, including the dualling of the A11, the introduction of the Dart Charge and the smart motorway network and improvements on the M25, M6 and M62. "_A road network that is safe, well-constructed and keeps Britain moving is vital to a growing economy. Graham will be handing over an organisation that has the interests of motorists right at its heart."
