Road Repair Failure
The RAC has criticised a new Government report about road repairs in England.
The report found that the amount of roadwork needed has remained the same across the past two years. Local authorities manage the majority of these roads. The RAC called the Governments inaction a ‘missed golden opportunity’. They say the pandemic meant roads were quieter and were the perfect time for much-needed repairs.
The report found that 4% of all A roads needed repairs in 2020-2021. This is the same as 2019-2020. The research also showed that 6% of all B and C roads needed repairs. This figure has been the same for the past five years.
DfT Comment
The report delivered by the Department for Transport (DfT) claims the pandemic had a big impact. They commented on the report saying:
“the pandemic has had a wide impact since March 2020, and figures should be considered within this context”.
The report also stated that the pandemic meant limiting the availability of specialists who could carry out the repairs. But the RAC claim that the quitter roads during lockdown gave the Government a ‘golden opportunity’. They estimate that traffic was nearly a third (27%) quieter during the pandemic.
Industry Reaction
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said:
“Given that most roads looked after by councils are minor ones, it’s hugely concerning – and rather disappointing – that an increasing proportion is ear-marked for maintenance, particularly with so many already in need of repair”.
A report delivered by Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) in march this year found it would cost over £10 billion to repair the road network. But this would only bring road standards in England and Wales to meet minimum targets.
So far in 2021, the RAC has assisted an average of 52 drivers a day that have broken down due to hitting a pothole.
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Road Repair Failure