AIA ALARM survey labels UK roads ‘a national disgrace’
The latest AIA ALARM survey has revealed that it will now take £18.6bn and 12 years clear the backlog of road repairs in the UK.
The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey found that there have been only marginal improvements to the condition of UK roads despite a 17% increase in highway maintenance budgets in England and Wales.
Budgets this year are reported to be £30.5m per local authority, but that is £8.1m below what is said to be required.
The situation is likely to only deteriorate, with the ALARM survey reporting that only 51% of the local road network is in a good structural condition with 15 years or more of life remaining, while 16% has less than five years of good structural life left.
Underfunded network
David Giles, chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), said: “I think all road users would agree that the condition of our local roads has become a national disgrace.
“Tracking ALARM data over the last decade shows the amount needed to bring local roads up to scratch has increased dramatically, and the impact of frequent adverse weather events on a consistently underfunded network are coming home to roost so road users should not expect a quick fix.
“Local authority highway engineers have told us they are cautiously optimistic that the increased funding announced by the government should help them stem further decline. However, it is not the silver bullet that will enable them to clear the backlog of repairs any time soon.”
AA president Edmund King OBE added: “The ALARM 2026 report starkly warns us how much more needs to be done to eradicate this plague of potholes. We have been seeing with our own eyes, and feeling with our wheels, how record wet weather linked to substandard roads has led to many local roads becoming patchwork obstacle courses.
“The AA has been called out to 137,000 pothole-related incidents in the UK in January and February this year – 25,000 up on last year. Extra funding needs to be maintained and spent on more permanent repairs to prevent extensive vehicle damage and potentially fatal injuries to those on two wheels.”
Point of no return
RAC head of policy Simon Williams concluded: “We hope new record levels of funding from central government and a commitment to longer term investment that allow councils to plan highways maintenance will mean we start to turn a corner.
“The path to better roads isn’t complicated: ensure water always drains off the roads, fix potholes as permanently as possible, seal roads against water ingress through preventative maintenance, and resurface those that have gone beyond the point of no return.”
