This coming financial year, some of the highlights in the Business Plan are to:

• Continue the successful delivery of the Managed Motorways Programme to increase both capacity and reliability of the road network.
• Progress 10 national and regional schemes currently under construction, including the A3 Hindhead improvement, M25 junction 27 to 30 widening, and M1 junction 10 to 13 Hard Shoulder Running – delivering journey time reliability and safety benefits to road users.
• Increase efficiency in maintenance and renewal schemes, whilst maintaining the network of motorways and major A roads to a safe and serviceable condition.
• Further reduce impact on the environment with more challenging targets for carbon emissions.
• Reopen traffic lanes faster following incidents (whilst maintaining safety), to help reduce congestion.
• Continue to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the network, including implementing a Road Worker Safety Strategy focussed on a commitment to achieve zero fatalities and serious injuries amongst our road workers.
• Improve the level and quality of asset data, through the delivery of key elements of the Integrated Asset Management programme.

Graham Dalton, Highways Agency Chief Executive, said:

“The year ahead brings fresh challenges, none more immediate than the financial constraints facing the public sector at large. We will rise to this challenge, delivering the best value that we can as we operate, maintain, and improve the motorway and trunk road network.”

The Agency will manage its supply chain partners to deliver the best outcomes for the Agency. It will also seek to make savings through continued implementation of Lean improvement techniques achieving greater efficiency and faster delivery, and driving continuous improvement in working practices.

Other measures in the Business Plan include:

• Further preparation for the specification and procurement of the National Traffic Information Service (replacing the existing National Traffic Control Centre), due to commence in Sept 2011.
• Delivering a Strategic Driver Information Programme that will raise awareness of Managed Motorways, and inform our customers on how to use them safely. This will complement the continued distribution of existing Driver Information Programmes with our safety partners.

A copy of the Business Plan will be available online from today (25 March 2010) at: www.highways.gov.uk/businessplan

Notes to editors

Issued by the Highways Agency National Press Office. For further information please contact Alex Barnett on 020 7153 4847. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 0207 081 7443.

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England’s motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. The Highways Agency’s 2010/11 Business Plan is available online at www.highways.gov.uk/businessplan, or by contacting the Highways Agency National Press Office on 020 7153 4847.
3. The Environment Strategy is also available from today, and is available online on the “Corporate Documents” page of our website – www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/136.aspx
4. The National Traffic Information Service contract is planned to be let in the first quarter of 2011.
5. Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is now available:
   
   • From our Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk. To tune into the DAB service, simply press the 'scan' button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach 'Traffic Radio'.
   • On the internet at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic, or www.highways.gov.uk/mobileif using a phone or mobile device. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call.
   • By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT residential landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).
6. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.ukor telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 4p per minute from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).

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Issued by the Highways Agency National Press Office. For further information please contact Alex Barnett on 020 7153 4847. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 0207 081 7443.