New company Highways England have been responsible for running both motorways and major trunk roads since April 1st, 2015, assuming responsibility from the Highways Agency. Highways England will be given new longer-term funding, enabling it to plan ahead and to invest in both skills and equipment.æ As a result, it's hoped that essential work will speed up and that costs to the taxpayer will decrease. The move is the first of a number of changes being made within the road maintenance sector in order to save the taxpayer around £2.6 billion during the next ten years. Transport Minister, John Hayes, said: 'This marks a significant way forward in how our strategic road network is delivered and managed. 'These reforms will mean the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads upgrade for decades. Ensuring we have well maintained roads and motorways is essential to a modern transport system that will boost our economy, create jobs and give more choice about where we live and work whilst delivering billions in savings. "I am clear that Government will set the strategy, gauge its implementation and direct necessary changes. Highways England will be answerable to Parliament, fully accountable for its work and will report to ministers.î The Road Investment Strategy was announced in the government's Autumn Statement, and included plans to spend £15.2bn on 84 new road projects to help enhance connectivity. Government will also tackle long-standing problems in the UK's road network, such as creating a new strategic corridor to the South West via the A303 and adding a 1.8 mile tunnel at Stonehenge.æ It's also committed to adding an extra lane to key motorways in order to boost connectivity between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Yorkshire at a cost of £4.5bn. The government's commitment to new spending on roads amounts to the tripling of annual investment by 2021, with the total figure expected to reach £3bn.