RIS3: The £27bn Plan To Fix England’s Roads

England’s major roads are about to get a lot of attention. The Government has confirmed Road Investment Strategy 3, known as RIS3, with £27 billion earmarked for motorways and major A roads between 2026 and 2031. The headline is big, but the real story for motorists is simple. The plan is to fix roads that have been wearing out for years, not to just patch them up when they fail.

This really matters as poor road surfaces don’t just make journeys more frustrating, they hit drivers in the pocket. Our latest research found that drivers paid a record £1.8 billion in pothole-related repair costs over 2025, with tyres, wheels, and suspension the parts most commonly damaged. 

RIS3 is a promising sign that the condition of England’s road network is finally being treated as a long-term motoring issue, not a short-term nuisance.

What is the Road Investment Strategy in the UK?

RIS3 is the Government’s five-year plan for investing in and managing England’s strategic road network. 

In practice, that means England’s motorways and major A roads, the routes managed by National Highways, rather than by local councils. The strategy runs from April 2026 to March 2031 and sets out how these roads will be maintained, renewed and improved over that period. The Government says RIS3 is designed to create a road network that is safer, more resilient, and more reliable, while also addressing congestion pinch points and parts of the network that are reaching the end of their working life.

For motorists, the key thing to understand is scope. This is not a plan for every road in the country. It is focused mainly on the strategic road network, so the roads most likely to benefit are the big routes that keep traffic, freight, and long-distance journeys moving.

How much is the government spending on RIS3?

The Government has committed £27 billion to the RIS3, including a record £8.4 billion for repairs and renewals. 

This funding is being positioned as one of the largest road investment plans of its kind, with the aim of resurfacing roads, replacing worn-out stretches of motorway, and renewing ageing structures before they become bigger problems. 

As part of the plan, the Government has said National Highways will resurface more than 9,000 kilometres worth of motorway and A road lanes during the period, which is close to a quarter of the network.

Why are UK roads so bad right now?

Many roads are under pressure now because they are ageing, heavily used, and too often left with temporary fixes rather than the lasting repairs they need.

Our pothole report found that nearly two-thirds of motorists think the roads in their area are worse now than a year ago. More than 12 million drivers suffered vehicle damage after hitting potholes, and many only noticed the issue after the impact rather than at the roadside. That is part of what makes poor roads so costly. Damage is not always dramatic, but it can build up quietly. You can find everything you need to know about potholes in our dedicated blog.

How will RIS3 focus on road repair?

RIS3 is aimed at long-term renewal, which is very different from simply filling potholes when they appear. The strategy talks about renewing parts of the network that are reaching the end of their life, resurfacing roads, replacing worn-out motorway sections and repairing structures before failure sets in. 

The difference is important for drivers. Reactive pothole filling has its place, but it does not solve the deeper problem when a road surface or its underlying structure is already failing. 

What road upgrades are included in RIS3?

Alongside road repair and renewals, RIS3 also includes a number of targeted road upgrades. The Government says the plan will fund major schemes, including the A66 Northern-Trans-Pennine upgrade and support for the Lower Thames Crossing. They are also progressing a wider list of junction improvements, bypasses, and reconstruction projects. This interactive map details the principal programmes of investment. 

What does RIS3 mean for your car?

Better road surfaces will mean less damage to many of the major parts of your vehicle. Smoother roads generally mean less wear on suspension, improved tyre longevity, and better fuel efficiency, too. 

Our pothole data found that tyres (56%) were involved in most cases of pothole damage, followed by wheels (32%) and suspension components (24%). These are the parts that take the full force when a vehicle hits a broken surface or drops into a pothole.

If major routes become smoother and more consistent from RIS3, drivers should see less of the wear and tear that rough surfaces can cause. However, this will not remove the need for regular vehicle servicing, especially if your car has recently hit a pothole or started to feel different afterwards.

Will drivers feel the benefit from RIS3 straight away?

Drivers should see the benefits on major roads over time, but local road problems are unlikely to disappear overnight. 

As RIS3 only applies to motorways and major A roads, residential streets or your local town-centre route won’t see any improvement from this scheme, as local roads are funded differently. However, the government has also recently committed to investing over £7 billion over the next four years to help local councils tackle their potholes.  

How can Kwik Fit help while the roads catch up?

Ensuring your vehicle has regular checks can help catch any pothole damage early, even when the signs are easy to miss. 

If you have noticed any vibrations through the steering wheel, a pull to one side, a drop in tyre pressure or a harsher ride than usual, it is worth getting your vehicle looked at by our team of skilled technicians before a small problem turns into a bigger repair bill. 

Book a service at your local Kwik Fit today.