The Department for Transport announced a slimmed-down list of 16 new local schemes, following a Major Road Network and Large Local Majors (MRN/LLM) review.

Announced alongside the launch of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), the schemes will be funded through the MRN/LLM programme. This investment package funds large local highway authority transport schemes that are not possible to support ‘through the normal routes', such as the Local Transport Fund or other devolved allocations.

This year marks a drop in the number of schemes included, with 28 announced in 2025.

A total of 42 schemes were also under consideration in 2025, which were whittled down to the schemes listed below.

Approved local authority-led schemes

 

Scheme

Description

A10 corridor scheme in Broxbourne

A10 junction improvements plus supporting sustainable transport measures.

A140-A1120 Earl Stonham

Realignment of the A140 / A1120 junction at Earl Stonham village.

A229 Blue Bell Hill Improvements

Upgrade of junctions at either end of Bluebell Hill: A229 / M2 J3 and A229 / M20 J6.

A259 south coast corridor

Measures to enhance access to public transport and active travel facilities alongside localised road and junction capacity improvements.

A326 Waterside improvements

Improvements to the A326 Corridor connecting into the M27 at Junction 2 and serving the Waterside area of the New Forest.

A379 Bridge Road (formerly Exeter Outer Ring Road)

Major structural renewals on a key arterial route over the River Exe.

A426 / A4071 Avon Mill / Hunters Lane improvements

Enlargement of Avon Mill roundabout / provision of new roundabout at A426 Newbold Rd-Hunters Lane / new short length of dual carriageway between the 2 roundabouts including new bridge over the River Avon.

A43 Northampton

Phase 3 of dualling of the A43 between the A45 and A14. Duals the stretch between Overstone Grange Roundabout and Holcot / Sywell Roundabout.

A650 Tong Street

Carriageway widening to 2 lanes in each direction and improvements to active travel facilities

M5 Junction 28

Improvements to junction to mitigate impacts of Culm Garden Village development.

Northam Rail Bridge

Provision of a new, widened, replacement bridge on the A3024 corridor in Southampton.

Norwich Western Link

New link to the west of Norwich

Shalesmoor Gateway

Replacement of existing Shalesmoor roundabout and widening carriageway links; and upgrades to junction at Rutland Road / Penistone Road in Sheffield.

Sunderland strategic transport corridor phase 4

Improvements to the A1231 between the new bridge over the River Wear and the junction with the A19.

Vauxhall Way improvements phase 1

Dualling the existing Vauxhall Way to increase capacity

Wigan East West

A link road connecting the A49 at Wigan to the A58 at Hindley.