The Conservatives have promised to make accelerated road building a central feature of the party's election platform.

Iain Duncan Smith said delays on motorways and trunk roads had risen 40 per cent under Labour.

Forum Response: Construction Products Association

Allan Wilen, economics director at the Construction Products Association, told ePolitix.com: "The Conservative's election pledge to press on with improvements to the road network is welcome news.

"The recently completed multi-modal studies have identified a wide range of much needed transport improvements that will help ease congestion, foster economic growth and protect the environment.

"Cross-party support for these projects would help ensure that early and sustained progress is made towards raising the quality of the nation's transport infrastructure.

"The Association continues to monitor closely the government's delivery of such investment in our built environment.

"The 2003 'Achievable Targets' report will be published ahead of this year's Labour Party Conference and will provide detailed analysis of the progress the government has made towards its own targets of building new schools, hospitals, housing and transport infrastructure or repairing the existing stock."

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

A spokesman for the IoD told ePolitix.com: ""We have to face up to a simple truth - in the face of strong opposition from the environment lobby - that more road capacity will have to be built.

"This should be funded by the introduction of road pricing. We are in little doubt that unless a dual strategy of congestion charging and road building is implemented road misery will continue."