Labour to target poor bridges, tunnels and flyovers as drivers benefit from major road project

Labour has unveiled new plans to fix England's ageing roads, with fresh funding aimed at repairing bridges, tunnels and flyovers.

The Department for Transport explained how the cash will help tackle long-standing problems in the road network, with councils able to bid for money to fix structures that have been left to deteriorate.

The funding comes through a new "Structures Fund", part of a wider effort to improve transport links and support drivers across the country.

Under the scheme, councils will apply for funding to repair key infrastructure, with a focus on making journeys safer and more reliable. Ministers stated the money will go directly to local authorities so they can deal with the most urgent repairs they cannot afford on their own.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hopes the funding will help fix structures that have been neglected for years, which have often led to disruption for drivers and communities.

She said: "Crumbling bridges and worn-out flyovers have been patched up rather than properly fixed for far too long."

Ms Alexander warned that failing infrastructure is holding the country back, adding: "Every closed bridge is a barrier to growth; a blocked route to work, a delayed delivery, a family unable to reach the services they depend on."

She said councils have long been aware of the problems but lacked the funding to act. "We're changing that, making sure structures are repaired properly so that people can live in properly connected communities," she added.

Councils have been invited to submit initial applications by June 19. Final funding decisions will be made in the autumn, with all approved projects expected to be completed by March 2030.

Industry experts have welcomed the move, warning that much of the UK's infrastructure is ageing and under increasing pressure.

Steve Denston, Managing Director at WSP and Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: "Local highways structures are ageing and in many cases performing beyond what they were originally designed for."

He added that extreme weather is also taking its toll, putting further strain on roads and bridges. "The Structures Fund is an important step forward and will help protect vital infrastructure while supporting economic growth," he said.

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The new fund forms part of a wider £1billion package to improve England's roads. It also sits within a £24billion commitment announced in the 2025 Spending Review for road and rail maintenance.

Ministers detailed that this is the biggest investment in local infrastructure in a generation and builds on an existing £7.3billion pledge to fix potholes and improve road surfaces between 2026 and 2030.

The announcement comes at the same time the Government is tightening rules on councils to ensure money is being spent effectively.

Under the new system, local authorities that fail to show improvements could lose up to a third of their funding, worth around £1.6billion next year.

Roads Minister Simon Lightwood said drivers deserve better and insisted that funding will be closely monitored.

"Potholes aren't just an inconvenience; they can cost drivers hundreds of pounds in repairs," he said. "We're making sure every penny is spent properly on fixing our roads, not diverted elsewhere."

The Government also confirmed that 13 councils currently rated as underperforming will receive extra support to help improve their road maintenance.