Green macadam

Britain's us $28 billion roads programme will now receive a touch of green. End-January, the government unveiled plans to establish a new unit which will lead in planning, construction and maintenance of the country's 30 trunk roads and motorway schemes. A bulk of the work will involve coordinating the Highway Agency's regional offices on issues like landscaping, noise and use of construction materials. Top officials emphasise that the unit is not a mere "token gesture" but a giant step forward.