Article 18 Classification of roads and speed limits, etc.I1

England, Wales and Scotland

(1)

On the date on which the relevant part of the authorised development is completed and open for traffic the roads described in Part 1 (trunk roads) of Schedule 4 (classification of roads, etc.) will be trunk roads as if they had become so by virtue of an order under section 10(2)^f1 of the 1980 Act specifying that date as the date on which they were to become trunk roads.

(2)

On the date on which the roads described in Part 2 (classified roads) of Schedule 4 are completed and open for traffic, they are to become classified roads for the purpose of any enactment or instrument which refers to highways classified as classified roads as if such classification had been made under section 12(3) (general provision as to principal and classified roads) of the 1980 Act.

(3)

Unless otherwise agreed in writing with the local authority, the footways set out in Part 3 (footways) of Schedule 4 and identified on the rights of way and access plans are to be constructed by the undertaker in the specified locations and open for use from the date on which the authorised F1development is open for traffic.

(4)

The private means of access specified in column (2) of Part 4 (private means of access) of Schedule 4 and identified on the rights of way and access plans are to be constructed by the undertaker in the specified locations and open for use from the date on which the authorised development is open for traffic.

(5)

On and after the date on which the roads specified in Part 5 (speed limits) of Schedule 4 are completed and open for traffic—

(a)

no person is to drive any motor vehicle at a speed exceeding the limit in miles per hour specified in column (3) of that Part along the lengths of road identified in the corresponding row of column (2) of that Part; and

(b)

where the words “national speed limit” appear in column (3) of the table in Part 5 (speed limits) of Schedule 4, no person is to drive a motor vehicle on the lengths of road identified in the corresponding row of column (2) at a speed exceeding the national speed limit.

(6)

No speed limit imposed by or under this Order applies to vehicles falling within regulation 3(4F2)of the Road Traffic Exemptions (Special Forces) (Variation and Amendment) Regulations 2011^f2 when used in accordance with regulation 3(5) of those Regulations.

(7)

In this article “national speed limit” has the same meaning as in Schedule 1 (definitions) to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016^f3.

(8)

The application of paragraphs (1) to (6) may be varied or revoked by any instrument made under any enactment which provides for the variation or revocation of such matters.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Word in art. 18(3) substituted (27.5.2026) by The A46 Coventry Junctions (Walsgrave) Development Consent (Correction) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/556), art. 1, Sch.
F2: Art. 18(6) bracket inserted (27.5.2026) by The A46 Coventry Junctions (Walsgrave) Development Consent (Correction) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/556), art. 1, Sch.

Commencement

I1: Art. 18 in force at 25.2.2026, see art. 1

Footnotes

f1: Section 10(2) was amended by section 22(2)(a) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and by section 1(6) of, and paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 1 to, the Infrastructure Act 2015.
f2: S.I. 2011/935.
f3: S.I. 2016/362, amended by S.I. 2017/1011, S.I. 2017/1086, S.I. 2018/161, S.I. 2020/663, S.I. 2021/75, S.I. 2022/111 and S.I. 2023/783.