The government has called construction firms to be ready for its £24 billion investment in the nation's roads.

The amount of money being pumped into the network is set to triple over the next eight years, generating almost 300,000 new jobs for the building sector. Roads minister Robert Goodwill has urged the nation's largest construction businesses to prepare themselves for the increased workload, in readiness for what he calls the biggest investment in the road system since the 1970s.

According to the government, £10.7 billion will be invested in improving the country's strategic roads from 2015 to 2021, with a further £6.1 billion being spent on resurfacing work. Targeting potholes is another priority, with £6 billion committed to rectifying the problem on local authority highways.

Mr Goodwill commented: "We need to make sure everyone is ready to deliver the massive programme of investment that we need to keep Britain's roads moving." He added that the government expected the investment would ensure the country could cope with an estimated 43 per cent increase in traffic.

The proposed reforms will also see the Highways Agency become a state-owned company. it is anticipated that the changes will result in the taxpayer saving around £2.6 billion over the next ten years.