Multi-billion pound road schemes to be announced

A massive road building programme, the biggest for a decade, is expected to be announced today (Wednesday) by transport secretary Alistair Darling.

The new road programme, which comes as a result of the government's multi-modal studies and is estimated at £6bn, is expected to include the widening of the M25 to four lanes.

The M1 between London and Milton Keynes will also be widened with more lanes expected on the M42 around Birmingham, the M60 in Manchester and the A1 and M11.

However the work will not form part of the Highways Agency's packaged work which is expected to be announced later this year.