PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND HIGHWAYS.

In the activities required to create a highway - identification, promotion, land acquisition, design and construction, operation, maintenance - there is a spectrum of possibilities for involvement of the private sector and market processes. The current position in the United Kingdom is described and on that basis, with some wider generalization, future possibilities are analyzed. Highway maintenance is progressively moving to the private sector. There appears to be no reason why most of the maintenance program for main roads could not be delegated to the private sector. A preferred method is outlined. For highways generally, statutory position limits the degree of market provision.