ALARM reveals local road condition failing to deliver

You could drive almost around the world on the length of roads in England and Wales that could fail if they are not fixed in the next 12 months, reports this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey, published today (20 March 2018).

Cash-strapped local authorities report that more than 24,400 miles of road are identified as needing essential maintenance in the next year.

The ALARM survey, produced by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) and now in its 23rd year, 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 that the gap between the funds they received and the amount they actually needed to keep the carriageway in reasonable order was almost £556 million – a shortfall of £3.3 million for every authority. And, it would now take 14 years to get local roads back into a reasonable steady state, provided adequate funds and resources were available.

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 £400 billion, 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 will be available to download from 00.01 hours on Tuesday 20 March by visiting www.asphaltuk.org

Key Facts

• 92 years – average time before a road is resurfaced in England (31 years in London; 71 years in Wales)
• £9.31 billion – estimated one-time cost to get roads back into reasonable condition (72.3 million per authority in England; £14.6 million in London; £27.4 million in Wales)
• £3.4 million per authority – average annual carriageway maintenance budget shortfall in England (£3.0 million in London; £3.1 million in Wales)
• 14 years – time needed to clear the backlog across local authorities in England, Wales and London (13 years in England, 9 years in London; 24 years in Wales)
• 1.3 million – number of potholes filled in England (60,100 in London; 131,500 in Wales)
• £19.5 million – total cost of road user compensation claims in England (£8.2 million in London; £590,000 in Wales) 
• North/south divide – local authorities in the north are responsible for maintaining 45% of the network but receive, on average, two thirds of the overall highway maintenance budget of those in the south (average £19.32 million in the north, £26.95 million in the south).