£10.5 billion to fix UK's roads

£10.5 billion to fix UK's roads

A new report from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) suggests that in order to get Britain's roads to a decent driving condition will cost councils as much as £10.5 billion in resurfacing and other work.

An estimated 2.2 million potholes were filled in by local authorities across England and Wales last year, costing up to £113 million. Also, numerous compensation claims bought up by angry or injured motorists are thought to have cost up to £45 million including staff time spent. This amount spent on claims is more than 50% up on the previous year.

Whilst the cost of repairing potholes has not increased any significant amount, the number of roads in the UK classed as being in 'poor condition' is steadily rising. It is thought that 20% of local roads are in such condition - meaning that in real terms it has 5 years or less of safe driving life remaining. Poor condition roads also increase the cost of driving, with damage to cars and increased fuel consumption costing motorists up to £52 billion a year. Making patch repairs to old and poor quality roads is not effective in cost terms compared to planning and building new quality roads.

The chairman of AIA, Alan Mackenzie, commented: "Emergency funding from Government is welcome, but a little extra here and there makes very little difference... The additional £215 million announced in the autumn to help improve local road condition over the next couple of years doesn't even cover the £338 million of damage repair needed as a result of last year's rainfall."

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