Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Introducing the Highways Agency

We are the Highways Agency, an executive agency of the Department of Transport. We were set up in April 1994 by the Secretary of State for Transport, to manage, maintain and improve England's 6,500 miles of motorway and trunk roads. Our role is to make sure the network is safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally acceptable.

The map on page 10 shows all the trunk roads and motorways in England. Other roads in England are managed by the relevant local authority. The Welsh Office, Scottish Office and Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) look after roads in their countries.

We will do our best to reduce any unwanted effects which our road schemes might have on homes, communities and the environment. Our procedures are designed to make sure that you know what we are proposing and how you can influence decisions. We will also pay you fair and reasonable compensation if we buy your property from you.

We have produced this booklet to give you a step-by-step guide to how we:

• develop new road schemes;
• consult members of the public;
• consult members of the public;
• pay compensation to people whose homes are affected by our schemes.

If there is anything in this booklet that is not clear, or if you are worried about how a proposed motorway or trunk road could affect your home, please get in touch with your local Agency office. We will do our best to answer your questions.

LAWRIE HAYNES
Chief Executive

Highways Agency