§ Mrs. PeacockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to help road users to identify high-standard all-purpose trunk roads. [36229]
§ Mr. WattsMotorways are our highest standard trunk roads. The Government's road improvement programme has established a second category of all-purpose trunk roads which offer similar levels of service to motorways, with dual carriageways, purpose-built interchanges and restricted frontage access. I consider that we should now do more to publicise the second category of roads near motorway standard, so that road users can more easily identify the quality of route they should expect. This will also help locations which, although not directly served by the motorway network, nevertheless benefit from excellent trunk road connections and so good accessibility to national and international markets.
Following discussion with the Minister with special responsibility for the south-west, I announced on 4 July that the section of the A38 which connects Plymouth to the national motorway network will be the first to benefit from the new designation—which will be called an expressway. I will be giving consideration to extending this more widely to other high standard all-purpose trunk roads in England.