New smart motorways to be removed from government road-building plans due to financial pressures and lack of confidence felt by drivers.
The government and National Highways continue to invest £900 million in further safety improvements on existing smart motorways.
This includes progressing plans on installing 150 extra emergency areas across the network in line with the commitments made in response to the Transport Select Committee, as well as further improving the performance of stopped vehicle detection technology on every all-lane running smart motorway.
The government will also continue to give motorists clear advice when using existing smart motorways.
While no new stretches of road will be converted into smart motorways, the M56 J6-8 and M6 J21a-26 will be completed given they are already over three-quarters constructed.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:
“We want the public to know that this government is listening to their concerns.
“Today’s announcement means no new smart motorways will be built, recognising the lack of public confidence felt by drivers and the cost pressures due to inflation.”
Independent road safety campaigner, Meera Naran, whose 8-year-old son Dev, died in a motorway collision on the M6 in 2018, said:
“Since successfully campaigning for the 18-point action plan, £900 million commitment and the pause in the rollout in January 2022, there has been a lot of joined-up thinking in mutually coming to this decision.
“I thank ministers and executives for inviting me to work alongside them in memory of Dev, towards a mutual goal and for their commitment over the years.”
