Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has confirmed widening the notorious second main road between the South West and London is among the country's top priority highway building schemes vying for cash.
The recognition will fuel optimism that plans being drawn up to remove bottlenecks on the A303 and A30 to create a genuine alternative to the M5-M4 will end decades of road misery.
Mr McLoughlin told the Western Morning News the Department for Transport (DfT) was looking for "long-term solutions to several of the major schemes across the country".
The Conservative Secretary of State said improvements on the A30-A303 were schemes "in particular" officials are examining. The others he named were upgrades of the A63 through Hull, the A14 in Cambridgeshire and the A19 in the North East close to Newcastle.
His remarks came as Treasury minister Danny Alexander indicated more public spending will be diverted into building new roads and other infrastructure projects, adding that this month's spending review will shift spending to the projects that do most to support economic growth.
A campaign led by Somerset, Devon and Wiltshire county councils – and backed by Yeovil-based helicopter giant AgustaWestland and Cornwall's iconic Eden Project – claims effectively creating a dual carriageway from the M5 in Devon to the M3 in Hampshire would create more than 21,000 new jobs.
Proposals are being drawn up for widening single carriageways on various stretches of the Westcountry's "old London road" with the help of Whitehall and Highways Agency officials.
Mr McLoughlin was speaking as he announced £170 million would be spent on smaller road schemes to ease congestion at "pinch-points", including four in the Westcountry.
Asked whether he looked favourably upon the A30 and A303, the minister said he was "very conscious" of "the case being made". He added the DfT needs to "see if the funding is available" for "much bigger schemes" but added he was "pleased" Chancellor George Osborne had allocated an extra £900 million to roads in the autumn statement.
"I'm very aware of the problems on the A303 and the A30," he told the WMN, adding the DfT was examining "long-term solutions" to several major schemes across the country and said "the Hull road, the A14, the A30, the A303 and A19 are ones in particular".
The DfT has awarded funding for four "pinch-points" in the region:
£1.5 million for a £32.3 million replacement of a double mini-roundabout at Union Corner, Falmouth.
£1 million for a £1.5 million bus-only road close to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital.
£1 million for the £10.5 million Crediton link road.
£1.8 million for the £6.2 million Tithebarn link road near Exeter.