The State of England’s Roads
In a concerning revelation, RAC’s analysis of government data has unveiled a distressing truth – road treatment and resurfacing in England have reached their lowest point in the last five years. These figures are ringing alarm bells for both drivers and policymakers alike. In the fiscal year 2021/2022, a mere 1,123 miles of various road types received essential resurfacing, a significant drop from 1,588 miles back in 2017/2018, marking a 29% reduction. The situation is even grimmer when it comes to surface dressing, a preventive technique that extends the life of roads; only 3,551 miles were treated compared to 5,345 miles five years ago, a staggering 34% decrease.
A Dire Scenario
Delving deeper into the data, a closer look at 153 road authorities revealed alarming statistics. Astonishingly, three in ten (31%) did no resurfacing work at all, while half (51%) failed to carry out any surface dressing. The average length of road resurfaced by all authorities in the span of 12 months was a mere 13 miles, while surface dressing averaged just 42 miles.
The RAC’s Call for Change
These concerning statistics have prompted the RAC to renew its call for a shift in government funding for local road maintenance. Their proposal? Ringfencing a portion of fuel duty revenue to provide councils with long-term funding certainty. This approach aims to empower councils to improve the overall condition of all roads under their jurisdiction. According to Simon Williams, RAC’s head of policy, the reduction in road improvement work is a root cause of pothole proliferation. He emphasizes that resurfacing, while expensive, is sometimes the only viable option for roads in severe disrepair.
The RAC’s Call for Change
The RAC advocates for more cost-effective road surface treatments. For example, surface dressing costs just £5 per square meter for heavily trafficked A or B roads compared to £30 per square meter for conventional asphalt resurfacing. Another option is asphalt preservation, which is ideal for roads already in good condition. This method efficiently seals and maintains roads to prevent water ingress, offering a low carbon footprint and minimal disruption as it can be applied at night.
The Green and Amber Strategy
The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) asserts that proactive surface treatment maintenance programs, combined with a risk-based approach to resurfacing the worst roads, can significantly extend road lifespans. Preventative treatments like surface dressing maximize a road’s life expectancy, making them last three to four times longer than untreated roads, with minimal carbon emissions.
The RAC’s Simon Williams highlights that these treatments offer significant time savings as they can often be completed in a day or a few hours, reducing the need for extensive traffic management. In contrast, asphalt resurfacing requires prolonged periods of traffic management, increasing both cost and disruption.
A Plea for Investment and Change
Drivers in the UK contribute substantial funds to the Treasury each year, making it all the more frustrating that they must contend with substandard road surfaces. The RAC encourages local authorities to adopt a more preventative approach to road maintenance, stretching their budgets further and securing a better future for England’s roads. Furthermore, the call to the Government for increased road funding for councils remains a persistent plea, aiming to rectify the stark discrepancy between major and local road funding..
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