ALARM survey rings bell for local road condition

The latest ALARM (Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance) survey has been published which highlights the shocking state of Britain’s roads.

The report has rung a klaxon for immediate investment, showing that you could drive almost around the world on the length of roads in England and Wales that may fail if they are not fixed in the next 12 months.

Local authorities responding to the survey report that more than 24,400 miles of road need essential maintenance in the next year.

Produced by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), the ALARM survey is now in its 23rd year, and is widely respected throughout industry and local and national government as the most authoritative and comprehensive study into local road maintenance funding and condition.

This year, local authorities in England and Wales report a shortfall of £556M in funds needed to keep the carriageway in reasonable order, and at the current rate, it would take 14 years to get local roads back on track even with adequate funding.

Rick Green, Chairman of the AIA, said: “Although local authorities report an increase in average highway maintenance budgets this year, looking back over the last decade they have barely kept in line with inflation. This is reflected in road condition, with one in five of our local roads now classed as structurally poor – with less than five years’ life remaining – compared with one in six reported last year.

“Local roads are a vital asset, worth in the region of £400Bn, and they support all aspects of our daily work and home lives. But funding for their adequate maintenance has fallen short for so many years that further deterioration is inevitable.

“We accept that there is no magic wand to wave, nor is there a bottomless pot of money to tap into. There are difficult choices to be made at both local and national level but the government needs to provide adequate funding for a well maintained and safe local road network if it wants to support communities and drive economic growth.”

The full 2018 ALARM survey can be downloaded at: www.asphaltuk.org

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