Reports Find Many Smart Motorways Deliver Poor Value for Money Despite Safety Gains

Many smart motorway schemes in England are failing to provide the value for money originally anticipated, according to newly released reviews from National Highways.

The BBC reports that two schemes—sections of the M25 and M6—were rated as offering “very poor” value. Only three out of sixteen projects evaluated were on track to deliver the financial benefits originally expected. However, National Highways noted that most schemes have met or exceeded their safety objectives.

Edmund King, president of the AA, criticised the schemes, describing them as a “catastrophic waste of time, money and effort” with a “mixed safety record.” He highlighted that while controlled motorways using additional technology have proven safer, other smart motorway sections have seen increased fatalities and serious injuries.

“The current situation is frightening, with broken-down drivers relying on others to move quickly when a lane closure is indicated,” King said. He argued that many smart motorways were intended to widen roads “on the cheap” but called them a “failed experiment” that “is not really working on any level.” King called for the reinstatement of hard shoulders to restore driver confidence.

National Highways conducts periodic reviews of smart motorways to assess whether they meet their original objectives, including safety, environmental impact, congestion, and journey-time improvements. While most schemes have achieved safety and environmental goals, slower-than-expected traffic growth has meant fewer drivers benefit from the changes, reducing overall value for money.

Among the worst-performing projects is an all-lane-running section of the M25 north of London, which cost £180 million but did not deliver the anticipated journey-time improvements. Similarly, a £118 million dynamic hard shoulder section of the M6 near Birmingham improved peak morning travel but slowed journeys in the evening rush hour. Both schemes are forecast to deliver “very poor” value over their 60-year lifetimes.

In terms of safety, National Highways said five-year evaluations indicate smart motorways continue to provide benefits in line with, or exceeding, original forecasts, with most schemes experiencing lower collision rates than conventional motorways.