The Strategic Road Network (SRN) carries a third of all traffic and two-thirds of freight, provides business with the means to get its products and services to their customers, gives access to labour markets and suppliers and encourage trade and new investment. It is essential to the growth, wellbeing and balance of the nation’s economy.

The weather during winter can have adverse effects on the operation of the SRN and hence the wider economy. It is therefore imperative that Highways England remains able to maintain the safe operation of England’s highways during Winter conditions, both to fulfil its statutory obligations as highways authority and to ensure that the vital role the SRN plays in the English economy is

resilient to winter weather conditions.