Major roads and motorways in Kent have been earmarked for improvements as part of an ambitious £15 billion nationwide plan by the government.

The measures will be announced in Parliament today by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin and chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander.

Plans include spending £1.4 billion boosting capacity and improving conditions on seven roads in the county.

About 100 projects nationwide are included in the scheme during this Parliament and next - and details of 84 have been released today.

It has been dubbed "the biggest investment in roads in a generation".

In Kent, the schemes include improving the M20 between junctions 3 and 5 and junction 10a, the A21 from Tonbridge to Pembury, the M2 at junction 5, the A2 at the Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions, and the A20 access to Dover.

Patrick McLoughlin said: "Today I am setting out the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades.

"It will dramatically improve our road network and unlock Britain’s economic potential.

"Roads are key to our nation’s prosperity. For too long they have suffered from under-investment.

"This government has a long term plan to secure the country’s future and this £15 billion roads programme is demonstration of that.

"Better roads allow us to travel freely, creating jobs and opportunities, benefiting hard-working families across the country."

Danny Alexander added: "World class infrastructure is vital if we are to build a stronger economy, but it matters in other ways too.

"Today I am setting out the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades..." - Patrick McLoughlin

"It invigorates communities and gives people more opportunities to get on in life. This is why I have ensured that this government has prioritised funding roads, and railways, at a high level for future generations.

"Investment on this scale is only possible because we have taken the difficult decisions needed to control our public finances and stuck to our recovery plan which is now delivering strong growth and record numbers of jobs."

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, added: "Our long term economic plan means today we can invest an unprecedented £15 billion into Britain's infrastructure to improve repair and expand our roads.

"Our plans will transform some of the country’s most important strategic routes."

"For years our roads have been neglected. Now that this government is fixing the economy, we can afford to invest properly in our roads – unlocking jobs for the future and local growth by creating a road network that is fit for the 21st century."

The government is also transforming the Highways Agency into a government-owned company.

They say this will mean funding can be allocated on a longer term basis, saving the taxpayer at least £2.6 billion over the next ten years.

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