LONDON, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The British government has pledged to triple its funding on the country's major road network in the next eight years, calling on road building firms to get ready for a massive increase in work ahead of the biggest investment in the road network since the 1970s.

　　Roads Minister Robert Goodwill announced on Monday that the country would invest more than 24 billion pounds (about 39 billion U.S. dollars) in upgrading and improving the road network until 2021.

　　The Department of Transport said by the end of the next parliament, the government will be spending 3 billion pounds each year on improvements and maintenance for the strategic network alone.

　　It is estimated that the investment commitment made by the government would support nearly 30,000 new jobs across the construction sector.

　　"At the same time deliver a safer, more sustainable road network that is fit for the 21st century and beyond," said the department, adding "However, we need to make sure everyone is ready to deliver the massive program of investment that we need to keep Britain's roads moving."

　　Along with investing 10.7 billion pounds in major improvements for the country's strategic roads from 2015 to 2020/21, the government is also investing 6.1 billion pounds in resurfacing 80 percent of the major roads network.

　　It also plans to invest another 6 billion pounds in tackling potholes on local authority roads, the transport department said. (1 pound = 1.64 U.S. dollars)