Industry Calls on Labour to Tackle Stagnant Motorway Growth Amid Surging Driver Numbers

Industry leaders are urging the Labour Party to prioritise strategic motorway expansion, as congestion worsens across a road network that has seen minimal growth despite a dramatic rise in vehicle use.

The UK’s motorway infrastructure has expanded by just 65 miles over the past decade, increasing from 2,265 miles in 2014 to 2,330 miles in 2024. This marginal increase has failed to keep pace with ballooning traffic volumes and a sharp rise in driving licence holders, now exceeding 40 million.

Recent figures from the Department for Transport reveal that car and taxi traffic surged to a record 262.9 billion vehicle miles in 2023, contributing to a total of 330.8 billion vehicle miles across all vehicle types—up 2% on the previous year.

UK Falling Behind European Peers

In comparison with its European counterparts, the UK’s motorway development appears sluggish. Between 2014 and 2024:

• Spain constructed 6,917 miles of motorway

• France added 3,057 miles

• Germany built 1,440 miles

• Turkey added 2,082 miles

• Poland delivered 1,545 miles

  
  

Since 1990, the UK has added a mere 422 miles of motorway, with only three notable new stretches opened in that time: the A1(M) upgrade to Newcastle, the M8 expansion near Glasgow, and the M90/Queensferry Crossing—together totalling just 24 miles, according to former Department for Transport (DfT) civil servant Michael Dnes.

He suggests discrepancies in official figures may be due to improved Ordnance Survey mapping techniques, capturing minute “wiggles” in road layouts that marginally increase measured lengths. Dnes commented that UK motorway construction has become so negligible that modern mapping precision now accounts for perceived progress.

Congestion a Growing Concern

With more than 68% of UK workers commuting by car and just 11% using rail, the motorway network is under immense strain. Motorists face daily bottlenecks and delays, exacerbating frustrations over what many see as a neglected road strategy.

Edmund King, president of the AA, criticised the emphasis on smart motorways—where speed limits and lane usage are controlled dynamically—stating that these have been pursued “to the detriment of actually improving the network.”

According to King, smart motorways often fail to achieve their aims, with up to a third of drivers avoiding the inside lane for fear of encountering stationary vehicles. He also warned that sudden lane closures can worsen congestion, noting that £900 million has been spent retrofitting “badly designed” systems.

Policy Focus Misaligned?

Insiders at the DfT argue that the UK’s mature motorway network, which expanded rapidly in the 1950s and 60s, has left little room—or perceived necessity—for major extensions. Instead, governments have concentrated on enhancing existing infrastructure, often through smart technology and incremental upgrades.

Yet this strategy is increasingly being called into question.

With traffic at all-time highs and infrastructure under mounting pressure, industry voices are now calling for a renewed commitment to strategic motorway d