The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) has urged the UK Government not to reduce transport infrastructure investment to fund increased defence spending, arguing that modern transport networks are themselves a vital component of national resilience and security.
Responding to reports that the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan could lead to cuts to the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), the professional body said transport and defence should be viewed as complementary priorities rather than competing for funding.
The warning follows speculation that several major road schemes, including the A38 Derby Junctions improvement and the A46 Newark Bypass, could face cancellation or delays as ministers review spending priorities.
Transport is a strategic national asset
CIHT said it recognises the need to strengthen the UK’s defence capabilities amid an increasingly uncertain global environment but warned that cutting investment in transport infrastructure could undermine economic resilience and long-term growth.
The organisation argues that roads, bridges, railways and ports play a critical role not only in supporting businesses, supply chains and communities but also in enabling military mobility and emergency response.
Maintaining a reliable transport network, it says, is fundamental to economic security, access to employment and services, and the long-term prosperity needed to sustain public services and future investment.
CIHT stressed that stable, multi-year investment programmes are essential to maintaining industry confidence and ensuring infrastructure owners and supply chains can plan effectively.
The institution said funding certainty allows organisations to invest in skills, innovation and productivity while delivering better value for money and more resilient transport networks.
It also warned that reducing the pipeline of major infrastructure projects risks weakening industry capability and slowing progress towards wider economic, environmental and connectivity objectives.
CIHT highlighted the growing focus across NATO and Europe on the importance of resilient transport infrastructure in supporting defence operations.
Well-maintained roads, bridges, ports and rail connections are increasingly recognised as essential for moving personnel, equipment and supplies efficiently during periods of crisis, meaning transport investment delivers benefits for both economic growth and national security.
Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive of CIHT, said: “CIHT recognises the need for increased defence investment, but transport infrastructure should not be seen as an alternative to defence spending. Modern roads, bridges and transport infrastructure and networks are critical national assets. They support economic growth, community resilience, connectivity and national security. Decisions on RIS3 should fully consider these wider strategic benefits before planned investment is reduced.
“Transport investment delivers significant economic, social and environmental benefits and requires long-term funding certainty if those benefits are to be fully realised. Stable, multi-year funding settlements and a stable pipeline of infrastructure projects enable infrastructure owners, local authorities and the wider supply chain to plan effectively, invest in skills and innovation, achieve better value for money and deliver more resilient transport networks.”
CIHT said it will write to the UK Government urging ministers to recognise transport infrastructure as a critical enabler of economic growth, national resilience and net zero ambitions.
The organisation concluded that defence and transport investment are not mutually exclusive and that both are essential to building a stronger, more resilient and more productive United Kingdom.
