The backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has reached new heights at almost £17 billion while roads are only surfaced, on average, once every 93 years.
The figures, from this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey report, published on 18th March 2024 by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), show that more than half (52%), the 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 ALARM survey reports local road funding and conditions in England and Wales based on information provided directly by those responsible for the maintenance of the network. This year’s survey, the 30th, received a record 78% response rate from local authorities.
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.
- 9 million potholes have been filled at a cost of £137.4 million.
David Giles, Chair of the AIA 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.”
The Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) has given its reaction to the survey findings. Paula Claytonsmith, CEO at LCRIG said:
“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.”
Asphalt Group Managing Director Stephen Cooke said: “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.”
The full ALARM survey report is available to download by visiting the AIA website here.
* Based on ALARM 2016 – 2025 data, which reports that 17.5 million potholes have been filled in the last decade.