Innovative ideas to decarbonise the country’s highways will be brought to life due to tens of millions of pounds in government funding. Funding will support projects to decarbonise local highways infrastructure across the UK.

The multimillion-pound Live Labs 2 competition was announced to bring ideas for net zero highways to life. In addition to, innovative sustainable infrastructure proposals will be implemented with help of £30 million fund. As well as previous funding supported plant-based living walls to tackle roadside emissions and trials of innovative pothole detection techniques.

The funding will support projects looking at ways to decarbonise local highways infrastructure in regions across the UK. There will be a particular focus on making the construction, maintenance and running of the UK’s roads more sustainable.

Now in its second round of funding, the competition, organised by the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT), is the latest move in the government’s drive to create cleaner air and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Trudy Harrison, Transport Minister, said:

“Our £30 million investment will go towards a greener, safer transport landscape. It will help create green, high-skilled jobs across the country and I look forward to seeing these innovative ideas brought to life.”

Paula Hewitt, ADEPT, President, said:

“ADEPT is delighted to be able to move ahead on Live Labs 2 with this new round of DfT funding and support. The highways and transport sector is the UK’s single biggest carbon emitter and although we are seeing a transition to electric vehicles, there is a huge gap where we are yet to tackle road infrastructure and maintenance.”