Government Halts Dozens of Smart Motorway Projects
The government is scrapping 14 smart motorway schemes amid rising costs and driver mistrust. Eleven projects from the current Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) 2020-2025 and three planned under RIS3 (2025-2030) are now off the table. The move recognises public concerns and financial pressures mounting against the road-building spree.
Some Work Will Still Push Ahead
Despite cancellations, construction continues on key sections already nearing completion. The M56 between junctions 6 and 8 and the M6 from junction 21a to 26 remain greenlit with over three-quarters of work done.
The government, alongside National Highways, will still pour £900 million into safety upgrades on existing smart motorways. This includes installing stopped vehicle detection across all all-lane running smart motorway stretches, adding 150 more emergency refuge areas by 2025, and boosting clearer driver guidance.
“This government will continue to ensure our roads remain among the safest in the world – helping drivers not just to be safe, but crucially, to feel safe and confident when driving,” officials declared.
The Cancelled Smart Motorway Schemes
RIS2 (2020-2025) Paused Projects New All Lane Running Smart Motorways
- M3 junctions 9 to 14
- M40/M42 interchange
- M62 junctions 20 to 25
- M25 junctions 10 to 16
Dynamic Hard Shoulder to All Lane Running Conversions
- M1 junctions 10 to 13
- M4/M5 interchange (M4 jct 19-20 & M5 jct 15-17)
- M6 junctions 4 to 5
- M6 junctions 5 to 8
- M6 junctions 8 to 10a
- M42 junctions 3a to 7
- M62 junctions 25 to 30
RIS3 (2025-2030) Pipeline Schemes Cancelled
