Sub-national Transport Body Midlands Connect has submitted a funding request of £596m ($729.23m) to the UK Government for 11 transformational road schemes.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has given Midlands Connect the responsibility to identify priority schemes related to road improvements in the region.

The 11 schemes fall between two categories, seven under ‘Major Road Network’ and four under ‘Large Local Majors’.

The £596m fund will be covered by the government as part of its £3.5bn ($4.2bn) national fund available from 2020 to 2025.

The schemes are estimated to cost an overall total of £739m, with the remaining covered locally through a combination of public and private sector sources.

The updates will include new bypasses, road widening, junction and roundabout improvements, as well as further pedestrian and cycling facilities.

Construction is expected to start between 2020 and 2025 after securing the funding.

Midlands Connect technical programmes head Simon Statham said: “The Major Road Network targets funding specifically at schemes that help improve job opportunities, open up new housing developments and importantly address our environmental obligations as well.

“Objectives for the funding include understanding how a scheme will create improvements for all road users, not just cars, and improve air quality by reducing congestion.

“By speaking with a collective voice on behalf of the Midlands, we believe each of the schemes submitted has provided all the evidence the government needs to fund them in full and we expect to be celebrating a £600m investment in to the region to help our local authorities get on and deliver this transformational programme of upgrades.”