The AIA comments on the Local Government Association’s claims that 2017 represents a tipping point for local roads

Alan Mackenzie, Chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), comments on the Local Government Association’s statement on 2017 potentially becoming a tipping point for local roads:
“Prolonged under investment, coupled with wetter winters, increased traffic and an ageing network, means that the resilience of our local roads is at a low point. Clearing the maintenance backlog is impossible without a significant increase in funding.
“The fact remains that our local road network receives only a fraction of the funding allocated to the Strategic Road Network (SRN) and this disparity needs to be tackled proactively if further decline is to be prevented.
“Reallocating a few pence from existing fuel duty might prove an equitable way of turning the tide, as could previous calls for Vehicle Excise Duty to be redirected to local roads from 2021. Either way, the LGA is right that time is running out and that local roads maintenance should now be a national priority.”
Notes to editors
The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) is a partnership between the Mineral Products Association and Eurobitume UK. It draws on the knowledge and experience of both organisations to increase awareness of the asphalt industry and to promote the uses and benefits of asphalt.
The AIA produces the annual ALARM survey to provide a detailed picture of the condition of the local road network and enable insightful analysis of road maintenance and funding issues.
Our latest ALARM survey reported that local authority highways departments estimated that the time required, given adequate funding and resources, to bring the network up to scratch would be 14 years and would cost £11.8 billion.
The full report can be downloaded here. Please attribute any figures quotes to the AIA’s ALARM survey.