AIA comments on highway maintenance funding announcements in today’s Budget 

“It was encouraging to hear the Chancellor acknowledge that the condition of our local roads is a reminder of ‘our failure to invest as a nation’, however it’s disappointing that the opportunity to deliver a step change was missed.

“While, the additional £500 million for highway maintenance next year is welcome, it falls short of the long-term funding horizon the sector has been calling for. And, with a one-time catch-up cost of £14.4 billion* in England alone, this additional allocation is a fraction of what’s needed to prevent further decline.

“Local roads, which underpin all other local services, help support growth and are a key issue for members of the public and we know from our ALARM survey that conditions are at an all-time low, and that this is the result of decades of underfunding. Our hope was that the Chancellor would have announced a multi-year ringfenced commitment allowing local authorities to plan and proactively carry out the effective maintenance needed to drive improvement in our local roads.”

David Giles, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA)