England’s motorways and major A roads will benefit from a new maintenance framework worth an estimated £7.96bn excluding VAT. The Maintenance and Response 2 (M&R2) contract will cover the strategic road network’s everyday upkeep and emergency operations until mid-2037.
Seven regional lots, wide network coverage
The M&R2 framework is divided into seven geographically based lots. Successful suppliers will maintain and respond across substantial parts of the 4,500-mile network, rather than isolated sections. This model assigns each supplier responsibility for cyclical maintenance, incident response, winter service, and roadside technology within their regions.
In addition to regional appointments, suppliers will join an overarching framework. This structure allows National Highways to quickly access additional capacity if a regional supplier cannot meet demand, improving resilience during incidents or severe weather.
Maintaining more than the road surface
The contract covers a broad scope beyond carriageway repairs. It includes the upkeep of road signs, markings, barriers, fencing, lighting, and roadside technology. Maintaining these assets ensures road safety and network control. For example, damaged barriers pose safety risks, and faulty signs can confuse drivers. Similarly, roadside technology helps operators monitor traffic and respond appropriately.
Planned cyclical maintenance schedules regular inspections and repairs before defects escalate. Reactive maintenance provides urgent responses to unexpected incidents such as collisions or severe weather events. Integrating both approaches keeps the network safe and operational 24/7.
Incident response and severe weather included
M&R2 explicitly incorporates operational tasks for severe weather and incident management. Snow, ice, flooding, and debris require swift action to maintain traffic flow and safety. The framework ensures suppliers are part of emergency responses, not just routine repairs.
Long-term relationship, sector opportunities
The framework is due to start on 6 January 2028 and run until 1 July 2037. This near-decade deal offers suppliers a significant role in keeping some of the busiest roads in England safe and operational. Each regional lot represents a major contract opportunity for contractors and specialist firms.
National Highways emphasises that the £7.96bn figure is an estimate of the total contract value, not a spend already committed. The tender process is ongoing, and suppliers have yet to be appointed.
What M&R2 means for the network
The new framework updates the existing maintenance arrangements for England’s motorways and major A roads. By coordinating maintenance, incident response, and winter service across large regions with contingency support, National Highways aims to keep the network functioning through daily wear, emergencies, and harsh weather conditions.
For drivers, the goal is a motor network that works smoothly and safely without visible disruption. Barriers get repaired before they become hazardous. Winter teams act swiftly ahead of snow and ice. Incident response arrives promptly when accidents occur. The true test will be whether the network remains reliable and safe under the M&R2 framework from 2028 onwards.
