Revealed: the £2 billion plan for South West roads

The plans include a tunnel on the A303 at Stonehenge Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Highways England has set out how £2 billion of government investment to improve the capacity of roads in the South West will be used.

The plans aim to make journeys faster and more reliable, and boost the region's economy.

Highways England, the government-owned company which took over responsibility for England’s motorways and major A roads earlier this year, has set out its plan for the South West.

Highlights include:

  • Improvements to the M5 J23 at Bridgwater - which will support proposals to develop around 5,000 new homes and create more than 4,000 new jobs

  • A new junction on the M49 at Avonmouth

  • Development of a scheme on the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down route that passes Stonehenge, including building a tunnel

  • Dualling the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester

  • Dualling the A358 from the M5 at Taunton to the A303 at Southfields

  • Investigations into the benefits of connecting the two dual carriageway

  • sections of the A417 near Birdlip in Gloucestershire - it's hoped this will release the potential for a further 8,000 jobs

Millions of pounds worth of funding has also been promised for maintenance schemes, making provisions for cyclists, and for improving the environment.