The backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has reached new heights at almost £17 billion, according to this year’s ALARM Survey by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA).
The figures from the survey report that more than half (52%) – equivalent to around 106,000 miles– of the local road network reported to have less than 15 years’structural life remaining.
And, almost a third of these – 34,600 miles or one in six of the total – may only have up to five years life left.
The findings of ALARM 2025, which relate to the 2024/25 financial year, show that in England and Wales:
*Local authorities would have needed an extra £7.4 million each last year to maintain their network to their own target conditions and prevent further deterioration
*£16.81 billion is now reported to be required, as a one-off, for local authorities to bring the network up to their ‘ideal’ conditions.
*24,400 miles (12%) of the network are likely to need some form of maintenance in the next 12 months.
*Just 1.5% of the local road network was resurfaced in the last year.
*Roads are only resurfaced, on average, once every 93 years.
*1.9 million potholes have been filled at a cost of £137.4 million.
David Giles, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), which commissions the ALARM survey, said: “Over £20 billion has been spent on carriageway maintenance in England and Wales over the last decade, including spending to fill the equivalent* of one pothole every 18 seconds, every day, for 10 years.
“However, due partly to the short-term nature of the allocation of funding, it has resulted in no quantifiable uplift in the condition and resilience of the network. In fact almost all (94%) local authority highway teams reported that, in their opinion, there has been no improvement to their local network over the last year: a view no doubt shared by the majority of road users.”
“There needs to be a complete change in mindset away from short-term to longer term funding commitments,” added David Giles.
“Local authorities do their best with the resources available. Nevertheless, they have told us they need their budgets to more than double for the next five to 10 years if they are going to be able to address the backlog of repairs.
“That is why we are calling on Government, particularly now with a Comprehensive Spending Review ahead, to set a minimum five-year funding horizon and a substantial, sustained increase in investment with budgets ring-fenced specifically for local roads maintenance.
“Investing in local roads would allow authorities to plan and provide better value for money for taxpayers and deliver a more resilient network while helping kickstart the Government’s economic growth plans.”
Mike Hansford, Chief Executive of the RSTA said: “The combination of highly accurate data and the adoption of preventative maintenance strategies is the key to tackling the UK’s road crisis. This data highlights that a growing portion of the network is in mid-life, serviceable condition, making it crucial to apply preventative surface treatments before costly potholes develop.
The RSTA is focussed on positive solutions that will support road network operators with the challenge of managing their networks, and seeks to promote how data-driven, proactive maintenance will extend road life, reduce pothole formation, and deliver better outcomes for road users.”
RAC Head of Policy, Simon Williams said: “Once again, these figures paint a bleak picture of the state of the nation’s roads and confirm what a majority of drivers have known for a long time – that in far too many parts of the country, road surfaces are simply not fit-for-purpose.
“The lack of investment in our roads is a false economy as it just leads to bigger repair costs in the future – something local authorities can ill-afford. In the meantime, all road users continue to pay the price with uncomfortable journeys, avoidable breakdowns and repair bills that they only incur because potholes are so bad.
Local Government Association Transport Spokesperson, Cllr Adam Hug:
“It is no surprise to councils that the local roads repair backlog continues to rise, given inflation and huge demand pressures on local government statutory services.
“The funding increase in the last Budget was positive and must now be followed by a commitment in the Spending Review to a long-term financial package to tackle this backlog and put it into reverse.
“Investing in local roads now makes them more resilient and last longer, with direct benefits to road users, business, wider society and the environment.
“Councils have long called for a five-year funded package for maintaining our local roads, ensuring they are treated on a par with our motorways and major trunk roads, which is supported by this latest report.”
LCRIG CEO, Paula Claytonsmith added: “This year’s ALARM survey results once again expose the stark consequences of years of sustained underinvestment, extreme weather and rising traffic – pushing the UK’s roads into a state of accelerating decline.
“Our research makes it clear: short-term funding and ad hoc funding pots is trapping the sector in a cycle of reactive fixes, stifling innovation and leading to outdated maintenance strategies that ultimately cost the economy more in the long run. Without bold, long-term financial assurances for councils, the situation will only worsen.”
Any chance you can add this to my alarm story – pls just had to pop out
Stephen Cooke, Managing Director of road repair specialist Asphalt Group, said:
“The latest ALARM survey makes for horrific, but unsurprising, reading. The amount of money needed to bring the road network back to a reasonable condition is eye watering.
“We cannot go on like this and things need to change. For a long time the sector has called for longer term funding so that councils can plan their road maintenance and ensure that roads last longer.
“There needs to be better collaboration, funding for maintenance to ensure resilience of the transport network and frankly a change in mindset from the top to the bottom of the industry.
“There are several social, economic, safety and environmental benefits that are brought about through building a longer lasting road network. We must immediately move away from a patch and mend philosophy and instead put the focus on making roads last longer. Asphalt Group is ready to take action.”
PIC: AIA-ALARM SURVEY 2025
