New legislation has been introduced that will guarantee a significant rise in road improvement budgets in the coming years.

The Department for Transport (DfT) revealed the move will lead to the biggest ever investment in the nation's road infrastructure.

A total of £28 billion has been set aside by the government and spending on motorways and major A roads will treble. Around £500 million will also be used to develop electric vehicles, while £12 billion is to be spent specifically on road maintenance.

The DfT confirmed the plans will also see the Highways Agency become a publicly-owned company.

These reforms come at an opportune time, as a growing number of organisations - such as the Confederation of British Industry - have raised concerns about the state of the UK's roads in recent weeks.

According to transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, the money will help reduce congestion across the country and will end years of underinvestment.

"Since 1990, France has built more motorway miles than exist on our entire network, while Canada, Japan and Australia all spend four times more on their roads than we do," he remarked.