Potholes have pushed the roads in England and Wales to a critical point, as reported by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA).
The AIA Alarm Survey reveals that the cost to repair the backlog of repairs has soared to a record high of £16.3 billion. It is predicted that over half of the local road network in England and Wales could deteriorate over the next 15 years.
Data analysis shows that local governments need to fill over two million potholes in the current financial year, marking a 43% increase compared to the previous year. This is the highest number of potholes to be filled since 2015-2016, when approximately 2.2 million were repaired in England and Wales.
Currently, only 47% of local roads are considered to be in ‘good structural condition,’ with over 107,000 miles of local roads having a structural life of less than 15 years.
Rick Green, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, expressed concern over the situation, stating that local authorities are struggling to keep up with rising repair costs and the impact of extreme weather events.
Following the report’s release, RAC head of policy Simon Williams emphasized the urgent need for the Government to address the deteriorating state of roads across the country. The report highlights the growing gap between funding and the scale of maintenance required to keep roads safe and efficient.