Highways England’s (HE) programme for major improvements on the road network was overly optimistic and had to be substantially reduced from 112 schemes to 73, according to a review of the agency.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) also said too many people are still dying on the road network despite it being one of the safest in the world and HE had not quite achieved all of its KPIs.
However, the ORR’s five-year assessment added that it had delivered the majority of its commitments and had made good progress over the first road period since it was formed in 2015.
It said further hard work was required if HE is to meet its safety target for 2020; and further investment was needed to meet its longer-term goal: that no-one is harmed on the network by 2040.
John Larkinson, ORR chief executive, said: “Over the last five years Highways England has made very good progress and we have seen it meeting almost all of the targets it was set.
“We have pushed Highways England hard to deliver on safety, efficiency and meeting the needs of road users.”
In a statement, HE chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said it had delivered the government’s first roads investment strategy, which had supported economic growth: “It has also created new cycling routes, environmental improvements, and addressed a large number of noise and other community concerns,” he said.
“Over the next five years we will build on those outcomes with a further portfolio of investment to maintain and operate the network safely, provide new capacity where it is most needed, protect the environment and communities, and drive the economy.
“We value ORR’s feedback and will continue to work with them as we create a sustainable road network that meets the country’s future needs.”
