Despite the relative compactness of the UK we spend more time commuting than any other European nation

Prof David Begg, CIT chairman

A series of reports originally commissioned by former Transport Secretary John Prescott will call for the urgent widening of Britain's busiest motorways.

The findings, which are expected to land on ministers' desks over the next few months, could herald the end of Mr Prescott's much-vaunted integrated transport plan.

When the party came to power in 1997, Mr Prescott promised to put an end to the 'car culture' and increase investment in railways.

'No improvement for a decade'

In a separate report published on Thursday, the Commission for Integrated Transport (CIT) says that Britain has "a mountain to climb" if its transport system is to catch up with the rest of Europe.

People are being forced to use their cars "whether they want to or not" because of the "chronic" state of public transport.

In a further blow for the government, the CIT said the situation will not significantly improve for a decade or more.

'Worst in Europe'

CIT chairman Professor David Begg said Britain had the worst public transport system in Europe.

Prof Begg, said the CIT's survey showed "a transport network starved of investment for half a century."

He said there was "a situation that forced people into their cars whether they wanted to or not. "As a result the report shows we have more congestion than any other European country and the most intensely used road network other than in Spain.

"And despite the relative compactness of the UK we spend more time commuting than any other European nation."

Highest fares

He said Britain had some of the longest commuting times and highest railfares in Europe.

Details of the studies on traffic congestion, published in New Civil Engineer magazine, recommends 10-lane routes forming spine of the country's motorway network.

This would start around the M25, up major parts of the M1 and along the M6 to Manchester.

The widening of motorways, plus parallel access roads, could create 14 lanes on some stretches to cut congestion and improve road safety.

Other proposals are expected to include:

• Widening about 50 miles of the M6, near Manchester, north of junction 11 to eight lanes, with provision for further widening to 10 lanes (to be proposed by consultants Arup)

• Widening the M42 near Birmingham from six to ten lanes (Aspen Burrow Crocker and TPL)

• Widening to 10 lanes south of junction 11 on the M1 to the M25 and eight lanes from junction 11, north to Birmingham (Oscar Faber)

• M1 from junction 11 to junction 30 to be widened to 10 and eight lanes (WS Atkins and Steer Davies Gleave)

• Ten lane M25 orbital, with 14 lanes at busiest points or, alternatively, a parallel motorway between the M3 and M4 interchanges and between the M4 and M40 (Brown and Root)