The Government has announced more than £6bn will be made available to upgrade the country’s major roads.

The £6.1bn programme, unveiled today by transport minister Jesse Norman, is part of Whitehall’s £23bn upgrade to the road network in England.

The Government will also ‘shortly’ be announcing the winners of the 2017/18 highways maintenance challenge fund, which is worth £75m to local authorities.

Over the next six months, the Government will continue work on 55 road improvements, including opening 8 schemes, consulting on 10 schemes and publishing final plans for another 29 schemes.

These are the next steps in the 2014 road investment strategy.

‘Road users across England should soon be seeing the benefits of these improvements in their daily lives, which are designed to link people better with their jobs, friends, family and local amenities, as well as connecting businesses with customers,’ said Mr Norman.

‘Over the next 6 months we expect to roll out our vital upgrade plan — taking next steps on £6.1 billion-worth of schemes and seeking to hear from local people, organisations and businesses to help shape our plans and ensure they benefit local communities.’

Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England chief executive, said: ‘Highways England is committed to delivering the government’s investment programme to improve the strategic road network.

‘These milestones are critical elements of our current work and we are extremely pleased that we are on track to deliver them.’

The president of the AA, Edmund King, also welcomed the announcement.

Referencing plans to add capacity to sections of the A1 in Northumberland, Mr King said: ‘Drivers will welcome this much needed investment on some of the nation’s most important routes.

‘As well as increasing capacity and smoothing traffic flow, we believe that significant road safety benefits can be to be achieved especially with the A1 improvements.

‘Following full consultations we hope that the proposed upgrades can be made quickly so drivers can reap the benefits.’