Civil engineering solutions manufacturer Wrekin Products has published a new report taking a detailed look at the issues putting our local roads under strain, from financial pressures and changing environmental conditions to evolving vehicle demands.
Drawing on interviews with representatives from road organisations and local authorities across the country, and Wrekin’s own industry survey, The Evolving Needs of UK Roads considers solutions to avoid the treadmill of disruption and repairs within limited resources.
It follows the publication of the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s 2026 ALARM survey, which revealed that the UK’s backlog of carriageway repairs would take 12 years to clear, even with the government’s investment injection over the last year. One in six local roads are reported to have less than five years’ structural life remaining.
Paul Thompson, technical specification and sustainability manager at Wrekin, said: “The UK’s road network is under enormous pressure from rising traffic volumes, extreme weather and tightening budgets.
“Too often, the response to road maintenance and repairs consists of short-term fixes rather than lasting solutions and highway ironwork increasingly feels the strain as a result.
“We wanted our whitepaper to get to the heart of what is causing these issues and the action that could be taken. One way is for local authorities and utility companies to use robust, quality ironwork that is built to last.
“Fitted with the best installation methods, this ironwork could help build better resilience in our roads, extending service life, improving safety and cutting the embodied carbon impact of premature failures and repeat interventions.”
The Evolving Needs of UK Roads addresses the financial pressures, changing environmental conditions and evolving vehicle demands shaping the industry – with a particular focus on ensuring the UK’s highway ironwork is fit for the future.
Download The Evolving Needs of UK Roads at https://www.wrekinproducts.com/services/whitepapers/evolving-needs-uk-roads.
To learn more about Wrekin, visit https://www.wrekinproducts.com.
(Image – Wrekin)
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