The transport secretary has announced a substantial expansion in the UK's road network and a radical review of road charging.

Announcing moves which will be bitterly opposed by environmentalists, Alistair Darling said congestion would get worse unless capacity was increased.

"First we are making better use of existing infrastructure, improving the way it's managed and dealing with bottlenecks," he told MPs.

"Second we are improving public transport so that it provides a better choice.

"Third we are investing in new capacity where's it's needed to tackle congestion and improve safety.

"And fourth planning ahead for the pressures we know we'll face in 20 to 30 years time."

Last December the government announced proposals to widen both the M6 between Manchester and Birmingham and the M1 through the East Midlands to four lanes.

Recent studies also recommended further improvements to strategic road arteries - including further stretches of the M1 and the M25.

The Highways Agency will also be asked to develop proposals to widen the M1 from the M25 to Milton Keynes to four lanes and also to widen parts of the M1, M62, A1(M) and M18 in South and West Yorkshire.

"A third of the M25 already has four lanes. Today I am also asking the agency to take forward the study recommendation to widen most of the remaining three lane sections of M25 to four lanes," added Darling.

The government is also set to develop a strategic link between the new M6 toll road and the M54.

A feasibility study into road pricing and new pay as you drive charging for the haulage industry will also be established, Darling said.

"Our objective must be to provide a better deal for the motorist. Road pricing would be a radically different approach," said Darling.

"But it could have huge potential to reduce congestion, to allow faster more reliable journeys. Giving motorists a better choice about how and when they travel.

"We'd be failing future generations if we did not test its feasibility and examine the gains that could come from it."

A system of lorry road user charging, supported by the industry itself, would result in fewer heavy goods vehicles using motorways during peak hours.

In a Commons statement the transport secretary insisted the government was adopting a "measured and balanced approach".

But he stressed that "we can't build our way out of all the problems we face".

Whilst the road network would have to be expanded, Darling said the government also wanted to "make better use of existing capacity".

He said the government was investing an additional £33 billion investment in the rail network.

He pledged an additional £1 billion for local transport in the West Midlands and told MPs that central government had increased transport subsidies to local authorities threefold since 1997.

Shadow transport secretary Tim Collins said drivers were paying the price for six years of inaction under Labour.

But business groups said the announcement was welcome despite the delay.

David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "It's been a long journey to get to this starting point. Competing with other nations is becoming increasingly difficult for UK plc with the transport millstone around our neck.

"We are pleased at the progress that is being made, but disappointed that we have had to wait for so long. The M1 may not be the road to Damascus but at least Mr Darling's seen the light."