Government ministers could look into the possibility of a whole or partial sale of the road network in the UK to the private sector, in order to generate cash. It is thought the move would also improve the management of the roads.
Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, put the idea forward to government officials, and said the shift to private ownership would lead to greater efficiency in road building and management.
If the situation were to remain unchanged, government road projects could face being cut along with other planned work, including the £16bn London City to Heathrow rail link, and Crossrail, as it struggles to carry out its spending commitments.
In a report on UK roads, the RAC Foundation said, "With the anticipated severe pressures on the public finances over the coming years, Government may see the financial case for selling a stake in the Highways Agency as attractive."
The roads have a value of £85bn, as calculated in the Highways Agency's yearly report in 2007-08.
Proposals for methods of payment for road usage under private ownership include the company being funded by the Treasury, passing on a large percentage of the road taxes or fuel duty, to be replaced by motorway tolls and a road-charging scheme at a later date. National congestion charging is another idea, proposed by Sir Rod Eddington in his report on the future of transport.
