51% of England, Wales Local Roads in Good Condition: Report

A new report from the Asphalt Industry Alliance has revealed that only 51 percent of local roads in England and Wales are in good condition, with the estimated cost to restore them to ideal standards reaching a record 18.6 billion pounds and requiring up to 12 years of sustained effort.

The annual Alarm survey, based on responses from local authorities, highlights persistent challenges despite recent government investments aimed at addressing widespread pothole damage. Last year, repair teams filled 1.9 million potholes across the network, yet roads are resurfaced on average just once every 97 years. The report attributes the lack of noticeable progress to ongoing issues like extreme weather, where water seeps into road cracks and freezes below zero degrees Celsius, expanding the damage and creating larger hazards.

David Giles, chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, described the overall state as a national concern for all road users. "I think all road users would agree that the condition of our local roads has become a national disgrace," he said. He noted that while highway engineers expressed cautious optimism about stemming further deterioration, significant improvements...