NEW UK INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY UNDERLINES NEED FOR LONG-TERM THINKING ON ROAD MAINTENANCE
THE GOVERNMENT’S 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, published this week, sets out a long-term vision to build resilient, efficient and high-performing infrastructure, which includes a commitment to invest £24 billion in the local road network by 2030. But while these long-term funding pledges are welcome, potholes remain one of the most visible and frustrating signs of the current strain on roads. Paul Thompson, technical specification manager at civil engineering solutions provider Wrekin Products, has responded to the strategy by stressing the urgent need to tackle the critical underlying issue using preventative solutions instead of short-term fixes.
Paul said: “Despite the promise of long-term investment in infrastructure, the reality on the roads tells a different story. The backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales remains severe, with recent estimates putting the figure at around £15.6 billion. What’s more, data continues to show that over half of the local road network has less than 15 years’ structural life remaining. The critical underlying issue here, which is highly and unhelpfully politicised, is the vast quantity of potholes.
“Road users want to see immediate action; meanwhile local authorities want to be seen to be fixing the issue. However, funding needs to be used wisely to prevent the formation of potholes in the first instance so that the longevity of our road network is increased and the need for costly, constant repairs is reduced.
“The mindset of those responsible for road maintenance needs to shift to one which focusses on whole life cost. Our view is backed by the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils and said the government should focus on preventative measures rather than “reactively” fixing potholes.
“Working with local authorities for many years, we’re fully aware of the power that correctly installed and high-quality materials can have on the likelihood of potholes forming. Issues typically arise when weaknesses exist in the road surface, potentially due to surfacing joints, remedial works, or the use of poor-quality materials. Addressing these weaknesses stops the cycle before it can begin. Every 16 seconds a pothole is filled, which is simply not sustainable. Surface failures and failing ironwork go hand in hand, so we need this connection to be more widely recognised.
“Though the initial cost of measures like this is higher than patchwork repairs, soon enough the expenses from further repairs, disruption to roads while carrying them out, and damage to vehicles from untreated potholes makes the potential savings for local authorities and their residents alike astronomical.
“It was recently revealed that under new government plans there will be greater monitoring of local authority performance on road maintenance, with councils expected to publish annual reports in order to maintain access to millions of pounds in funding. The Department for Transport has also contacted local highway authorities to outline what this reporting should include, covering both reactive and preventative work. Importantly, it reinforces that temporary quick fixes should be avoided wherever possible and that a focus on prevention delivers better long-term value.”
“We see this as a positive step forward but urge those responsible for road maintenance to see potholes as more than just a surface issue. Within the framework of a 10-year infrastructure vision, long-term, below-the-surface solutions must become the standard rather than the exception.”
For more information on solutions to the UK’s pothole problem, read Wrekin Products’ industry report Potholes – More Than a Surface Issue here:
wrek.in/potholes
To learn more about Wrekin Products, visit www.wrekinproducts.com.
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