It's time to end the "sticking plaster" approach to road maintenance
Increasing pressure on budgets is encouraging some local authorities to go for short-term fixes in their road maintenance programmes. It's time to think long-term, work in partnership and avoid false economies, says Paul Fleetham, National Contracting Director at Tarmac.
It is a fact that we don't spend enough on maintaining our roads. The recent publication of the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey by the Asphalt Industry Alliance shows a £1 billion shortfall in funding across the country and an estimated repairs backlog, which will take 11 years to complete.
The same survey shows that, on average, 12,500 holes are dug in each authority's roads every year, equivalent to more than two million excavations across England and Wales, or one for every 200 yards of local authority road. As a country, we have to move away from 'make do and mend' - the sticking plaster approach to maintaining our roads.
How have we got here? Growing pressure on local authority budgets could lead to further reductions in maintenance spend and the temptation must be to go for cheaper maintenance solutions. But, as so often in life, you get what you pay for - and the lifespan of our roads is consequently not as long as it should be. This, coupled with increased traffic levels, and the wetter winters and hotter summers that we have been experiencing, could have a disastrous impact on the long-term condition of our roads and threaten road user's safety.
Despite the best efforts of local authorities and the private sector to drive best value from inadequate funding, through innovation and collaborative working, deterioration of the UK road network continues apace. Many local authorities are simply forced to paper over the cracks and treat the worst roads first. But is this the most effective use of the money available?
Once a road surface fails it becomes more expensive to repair. We should be treating our roads before they fail? The maxim of 'prevention is better than cure' holds true. Initially more expensive but longer-lasting pavement solutions are the way to go. There needs to be less short-termism in public sector procurement for longer-term gain.
I know this is easier said than done. But if the UK's road network were being designed now, from scratch, nobody would start from where we currently are. Our roads should be built to last.
Two changes to our road maintenance approach can help make a big difference.
Firstly, the technical development of our pavement surfaces has come on considerably in recent years. A more durable surface will pay medium- and long-term dividends by reducing the frequency of future road repairs.
Secondly, we need to look at new ways of working to help save cost. Nottinghamshire County Council's response has been to develop the Nottinghamshire Highways Partnership (NHP), a collaborative partnership which aims to maximise value and minimise waste for road design and maintenance. Tarmac has become a well-established NHP partner, working with the council to deliver real efficiency improvements, promote best value, and spread best practice - while bringing together private industry commercial expertise and experience. We learn from each other.
There are real benefits and rewards from this kind of innovative working, but it takes considerable focus, resolve and commitment on the ground to deliver. The NHP is a living, breathing example of the public and private sectors working together to deliver best value and best practice in highway construction and maintenance.
A sticking plaster is effective if treating a minor cut; it doesn't cost much and it works well. Unfortunately the prognosis for the UK road network is much worse than a minor cut and a sticking plaster approach will not fix the problem, more radical solutions are required.
For further information please Contact PR.
15 October 2008
