Journey times on England's main roads are unlikely to improve over the next 10 years -despite the £1.2bn plan to curb congestion announced yesterday.

The best motorists can hope for is that travel times on England's motorways and trunk roads will be no longer than they are today, Richard Eastman, the highways agency's new technology project director for roads, admitted. "I don't think journeys will be faster over the next 10 years."

The admission came as the agency announced measures to improve traffic management and provide better information for drivers as part of the government's £180bn, 10-year transport strategy.

New technology will also be introduced in an attempt to reduce congestion - although the agency admitted it lacked the staff to implement the hi- tech plans. But they would be found, it promised.

The agency hopes congestion will be reduced by 5% over 10 years - in contrast to the estimated rise of 28% - but journeys are not expected to take any less time because of increasing volume of traffic.

Among the plans announced were the installation of traffic automatic hold-up warning systems on 30% of all motorways by 2004 to reduce pile-ups; and 200 extra motorway monitoring cameras to help emergency services respond more quickly. Variable message signs on national roads will be tripled to 1,500 by 2003, to suggest alternative routes and avoid delays.

A national control centre will give more reliable journey times - and offer alternative route advice; and the M25 controlled motorway project will be extended, with controlled motorways on routes around Manchester and Birmingham.