ROADS and cycle lanes across Barnet will be freshened up after more than £5 million was dedicated to transport projects in the borough for 2010 and 2011.

The funding, which comes out of an £155 million Transport for London (TfL) budget for all London boroughs, will pay for a number of schemes including road maintenance and initiatives encouraging children to walk to school.

The borough has the second largest road network in London and will get £2.2 million to spend on 'corridors', or major roads in the area, more than any other area in London.

It will also get £666,000 to spend on strategies for 'smarter travel'.

The council hope to use the funding to ease congestion, as well as make improvements to existing cycle lanes and build new ones.

Officers said they had received most of what they requested from TfL, although they are still negotiating the amounts to be allocated for school travel plans.

In past years, money was split across 23 categories, but this year there it has been divided over only three in an effort to give councils more flexibility.

Councillor Andrew Harper, who only stood down from his role as cabinet member for environment and transport last night, said the funding was good news for Barnet's residents and motorists and was pleased the council now had more freedom to decide how to spend the money.

He said: "Changes to the system this year will also give us increased flexibility to adjust our spending plans if appropriate, to ensure we provide the most benefit to the citizens of Barnet".

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "We have cut red tape to make it easier for borough councils to choose the local transport projects that benefit their residents the most, simplifying the funding system and working together to give local people the improvements they want."

London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said the transport projects would make a real difference to peoples lives.

It will improve town centres and public spaces, "reducing the number of collisions on our roads, improving the environment and promoting greener forms of travel," he said.