UK says no to new ‘smart motorways’, PM Rishi Sunak confirms
The Community News/London
The United Kingdom government on Saturday pulled back from its proposed plan to construct new smart motorways over drivers’ distrust and high costs.
Informing the government’s move, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “All drivers deserve to have confidence in the roads they use to get around the country.
That’s why last year I pledged to stop the building of all new smart motorways, and today I’m making good on that promise.”
Earlier, the UK government was planning to construct smart motorways and some were even earmarked during the 3rd Road Investment Strategy (RIS) for 2025-30.
This comes after the lack of confidence on existing such motorways and the already marked 11 excluding 3 marked under RIS now stands cancelled as per UK PM’s pledge.
The estimated cost for the future smart motorway was pegged at 1 billion pounds which was hanging heavy on the already stretched purse of the British government.
UK 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.”
