Now that the snow and ice are melting, the extent of the damage to roads is starting to become apparent, in particular the amount of potholes appearing. It is however, too early to say how serious the problem will become. It is only once the cold spell has subsided that the highways authorities will be able to survey the entire road network and assess the situation properly.

One of the ways potholes are created is when water penetrates the road surface through cracks in the surface and freezes; it then expands and causes the surface to rupture. They can be a serious road hazard to motorcyclists and are the reason for many a motor insurance claim. Aviva, the UK’s largest insurance firm, has recorded a 30 percent increase of claims in the last fortnight alone.

HTMA Members are working hard in collaboration with highway authorities to ensure that everything is being done to repair the damage. Many councils have made significant investments in road surfacing over the last few years and this has helped to minimise the damage and costs that they are now facing.

David Hutchinson, HTMA Executive Director, said: “The local authorities have a tough challenge ahead of them. While there is an obvious and desperate need to repair and maintain the highway infrastructure, this will cost money, yet Local Authorities are anticipating significant cuts to their budgets by the government. The importance that the road network plays in our everyday life is often overlooked; freedom of movement and accessibility to schools, offices, hospitals and shops is vital for our communities and economy. The recent bad weather has illustrated just how vital it is to maintain this valuable asset.

“Gloucestershire County Council have estimated it will cost them up to £5M to repair the winter damage to roads and in Scotland it has been reported that tens of millions of pounds will be added to the country’s £2 billion road maintenance backlog. Both Buckinghamshire and West Berkshire councils have announced that they are increasing the number of teams who will be dedicated to repairing winter road damage, even though this will result in them going over budget. In order to deal with this lack of funding, some local authorities are considering private finance alternatives as the answer to meeting these extra costs.

“Safety for road users is integral in all the work our members carry out, and ensuring that the road is well maintained is the keystone to safety. We would argue that perhaps the general attitude to road maintenance needs improving.

“Temporary repairs being carried out currently are allowing the traffic to keep moving, but the real solutions lie in long-term, sustainable maintenance. We are having to adapt to a changing climate that experts predict will bring more severe weather in the future and this sustainable approach will help us better manage the conditions of the roads and thus minimise the damage due to the weather.”

In an IPSOS MORI survey last June, potholes were identified as one of the factors that cause the most frustration in our everyday lives. However, when the same survey asked how people would prioritise local authority spending, road maintenance was given a very low priority. Both the industry and the public need to align their expectations and priorities more closely to help address the need for proper long-term road maintenance funding.

Notes to editors:

The HTMA is the trade body for the UK highways maintenance industry. The industry turnover is in excess of £3 billion employing around 20,000 people. 400,000km of UK roads are managed and maintained – crucial to the wellbeing of the nation.

The HTMA members are: Amey, Atkins, Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall, BEAR, Carillion, Colas, Enterprise, Volker Highways, Halcrow, Hyder, Jacobs, May Gurney, Morrison, Mott MacDonald, Mouchel, Ringway, Scott Wilson, Skanska McNicholas, and WSP.

Issued on behalf of the HTMA Press Office by Joan Roemmele. For enquiries from the media, journalists and researchers only, the HTMA Press Office can be contacted on +44 (0) 1782 443080, +44 (0) 7917 638336 or e-mail: info@htma.co.uk