The Government has launched a new £1bn Structures Fund to help councils repair ageing bridges, flyovers and tunnels across England.
Announced by the Department for Transport, the fund is now open for applications and aims to address long-standing maintenance issues that many local authorities have struggled to fund independently.
The initiative forms part of a wider £1bn package to enhance the road network, within a broader £24bn investment in transport infrastructure set out in the 2025 Spending Review.
Ministers say deteriorating structures have led to weight restrictions, closures and disruption for communities and businesses. The funding is intended to improve resilience, support economic growth and ensure safer, more reliable journeys.
Councils are encouraged to submit draft bids by 19 June, with final applications due by 3 August 2026. Successful projects will be announced in the autumn, with works expected to be completed by March 2030.
James Bailey, chair of the Engineering Board at the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) said: ‘The scale of the challenge should not be underestimated. The maintenance backlog across England's local authority bridges is significant and runs far in excess of the £1bn available through this fund. The Structures Fund is an important and welcome step, but it is the beginning of addressing a backlog that has built up over many years.’
