The latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey, conducted by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) reports further deterioration of the nation’s roads.

It reveals that more than half (52%) of local roads in England and Wales—equivalent to around 106,000 miles—have less than 15 years of structural life remaining.

Paints a worrying picture of the state of the nation’s roads, the report highlights the growing backlog of necessary repairs and the ongoing cycle of short-term funding.

With a squeezed public purse, there seems little light at the end of the tarmac.

Deterioration and Backlog

The survey’s findings indicate an even more worrying fact; nearly a third of local roads—34,600 miles or one-sixth of the total—could last only five more years or less before requiring significant maintenance.

With local roads being resurfaced on average once every 93 years, the backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has reached an unprecedented potential cost of nearly £17 billion.

David Giles, chair of the AIA, emphasised the scale of the problem: “Over £20 billion has been spent on carriageway maintenance in England and Wales over the last decade, including the filling of one pothole every 18 seconds for 10 years. However, due partly to the short-term nature of funding, there has been no quantifiable improvement in the resilience of the network.”

Indeed, 94% of local authority highway teams reported that they had observed no improvement in their road networks over the past year, an assessment likely shared by frustrated road users.

If they haven’t actually got worse, that would be a bonus for most motorists.

Neglect

The financial shortfall is stark.

Local authorities would have needed an additional £7.4 million each in the last financial year alone to meet their own maintenance targets and prevent further road deterioration.

This equates to a nationwide funding gap of £16.8 billion.

The ALARM survey also found that 24,400 miles (12%) of roads will require maintenance within the next year.

Over the last 12 months only 1.5% of the local road network was resurfaced, and 1.9 million potholes were filled at a cost of £137.4 million.

Despite these efforts, road quality continues to decline.

Calls for long-term investment

Giles has urged the government to rethink its approach to road maintenance, calling for a shift from short-term funding cycles to a more stable, long-term financial commitment. “Local authorities do their best with the resources available,” he said. “But they have told us they need their budgets to more than double over the next five to ten years if they are to address the backlog of repairs.”

With the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review approaching, Giles is calling for a minimum five-year funding plan with a substantial, sustained increase in investment.

He argues that this would allow authorities to plan more effectively, provide better value for taxpayers, and improve road resilience, all while supporting the government’s economic growth objectives.

Widespread frustration

The report’s findings have resonated with road users and industry experts alike.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams described the situation as a “bleak picture” of the country’s road network.

“The lack of investment in our roads is a false economy as it just leads to bigger repair costs in future—something local authorities can ill-afford,” he stated.

Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at IAM RoadSmart, echoed these concerns, pointing out the safety risks posed by poorly maintained roads, particularly for cyclists and motorcyclists.

“Potholes are an expensive headache for drivers, but for those on two wheels, they pose a serious road safety hazard,” he warned.

“If drivers are swerving to avoid them, they risk collisions.”

Lyes also criticised the reliance on short-term fixes, stating that patching potholes is merely a temporary solution.

“We need to start properly resurfacing our roads to ensure we’re not throwing good money at bad roads and, most importantly, to guarantee smooth and safe journeys.”

The current state

The issues highlighted in the ALARM survey reflect broader trends in the UK’s road infrastructure.

Many motorists report increasingly rough and hazardous road conditions, with potholes and uneven surfaces leading to more vehicle damage, higher maintenance costs, and unsafe driving conditions.

According to the latest data, complaints about potholes have risen dramatically, and the cost of vehicle repairs due to road damage has surged.

Meanwhile, traffic congestion continues to be a major issue, exacerbated by deteriorating road conditions and a lack of strategic planning for maintenance and upgrades.

As the government looks to address transport infrastructure as part of its economic strategy, industry leaders and road users alike are urging a decisive move away from reactive maintenance toward a more sustainable, long-term funding approach.

The ALARM survey provides a stark warning about the UK’s crumbling road network.

Without a substantial and sustained increase in funding, roads in England and Wales will continue to deteriorate, leading to higher long-term costs, more vehicle damage, and significant safety concerns.

The call for long-term investment in road maintenance has never been more urgent, and all eyes will be on the government’s response in the upcoming spending review.

Working on it?

In response to the deteriorating condition of local roads highlighted by the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s (AIA) recent ALARM survey, the UK government has announced several funding initiatives aimed at addressing the issue:

  • Budget 2024 Allocation: The Chancellor announced an extra £500 million for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year, representing a nearly 50% increase compared to the current financial year.

  • Network North Plan: In October 2023, the government unveiled the Network North plan, which includes an additional £8.3 billion for highways maintenance over an 11-year period (2023/24 to 2033/34). This funding is intended for local road resurfacing and broader maintenance activities across the local highway network.

  • Local Transport Fund (LTF): As part of the Network North plan, £4.7 billion has been allocated to the LTF for the North and Midlands over seven years (2025/26 to 2031/32). The LTF can be used to fund a wide range of local transport measures, including road maintenance and pothole repairs.

Despite these funding commitments, concerns remain about their sufficiency and the need for long-term financial strategies.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has acknowledged these concerns and says it is working to address them.

DfT Permanent Secretary Dame Bernadette Kelly outlined the local maintenance spend for 2025/26, which includes a base of £1.125 billion, supplemented by the £150 million annual ‘Network North’ top-up and the £500 million one-off boost announced in the Budget, totalling £1.775 billion.

While these funding initiatives demonstrate the government’s recognition of the challenges facing the UK’s road infrastructure, industry experts and local authorities continue to stress the importance of long-term, stable funding to effectively tackle the backlog of repairs and improve the overall resilience of the road network.