UK road
Amongst other projects, the funding will be used to repair 11 million potholes across the country. Credit: Alan Stanton.

The Government of the UK has announced a £1.7bn Transport Infrastructure Investment Fund to improve roads and bridges, and repair potholes.

The move comes days after the government agreed to invest £2bn to encourage cycling, walking and to support e-scooter trials in the country.

The latest funding will be used to repair 11 million potholes across the country to improve journeys for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

It will also help the country to carry out several upgrade and road safety works, as well as to install priority bus lanes and support new projects that will encourage better air quality.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “To help those who do have to use public transport or get out on the roads to do their jobs, we’ve been accelerating infrastructure upgrades to make sure that, as we gradually reopen our society, everyone can benefit from smoother and safer journeys with better connections for our future.”

With the number of electric vehicles expected to increase over time, the government has also unveiled plans to increase rapid chargepoints across the country over the next decade.

The plan includes installing a minimum of six ultra-rapid chargepoints in every motorway service area by 2023.

The government noted that it has also expedited more than £175m worth of work to improve its road and rail network during the lockdown period.

Last month, nearly £200m of improvement works across England’s motorways and major A-roads were carried out.