ADEPT call for support for vital highways workers

The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) has clarified the position of their highways key workers during the current Covid-19 lockdown. Local authorities have a statutory duty to maintain the highways network in as safe a condition as is practically possible with the resources that they have available at all times. […]

Government announces recommendations for smart motorway safety improvements

The development and implementation of smart motorways will continue but there 18 key recommendations for the future including abolishing dynamic hard-shoulders, increasing the deployment of Stopped Vehicle Detection and an immediate review of emergency refuge provision. The move comes as part of the DfT’s Smart Motorway Safety Review, which has been published today. Transport Secretary, […]

RIS 2 follows massive spend on infrastructure

The Road Investment Strategy 2, from 2020-2025 has been launched, which comes with a budget of £27.4bn. This is an increase from the £25.3bn originally suggested and includes the completion of schemes carried over from RIS1 and the development of new upgrades worth £14.7bn by 2025. Over £20bn of the £27.4bn budget is capital spending, […]

ALARM reaches 25 years-but is there anything to celebrate?

The overall maintenance backlog for local roads has increased by 14%, with councils having to deal with an average fall in highway maintenance budgets of 16%. Last year, the backlog increased to £11.14bn from £9.79 the year before. The findings of this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) 2020 survey revealed that this shortfall […]