Vital maintenance by councils in England has fallen by nearly half as fewer roads receive regular care and improvement works as millions of drivers face issues with their cars.
Last year, 3,366 fewer roads were treated by local councils compared with five years ago, according to the latest research from the RAC.
Just four per cent of the 17,853 miles of A roads maintained by councils in England were resurfaced last year or given life-extending preservation treatment.
Local councils are responsible for the upkeep of roads within their jurisdiction, including potholes, clearing debris away from the road and strengthening, resurfacing and preserving road structures.
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Experts are calling on the Government to increase funding for roads
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Last year, 764 miles of A roads were cared for, a dramatic drop of 37 per cent compared to 2018 when 1,222 were refurbished.
For minor roads listed as B, C, and unclassified, 46 per cent fewer were cared for with 3,380 undergoing maintenance compared to 6,288 five years before.
More than 1,200 miles of all road types were entirely resurfaced by councils, totalling nine per cent more than the previous year but 22 per cent less than six years ago.
Preservation treatments include surface dressing and micro surfacing which is used to extend the life of roads.
Last year saw a 50 per cent dip in the number of roads given preservation treatments with only 2,698 miles of roads benefitting compared to 5,345 miles five years ago.
Simon Williams, head of policy at RAC, said: “These figures lay bare just how little resurfacing and life-extending preservation work councils have managed to carry out in the last financial year.
“We suspect this means road maintenance in England has reached a new low point – a sorry state of affairs considering how car-dependent the country is.”
Based on council care of roads by region, Kent resurfaced the most miles of A roads out of all authorities, totalling 26 miles of its 502-mile network.
Staffordshire carried out the most amount of preservation work, treating 36 miles of its 412 miles of A roads.
Pothole-related damages can be very expensive for drivers with RAC garage data from December 2023 showing that drivers can expect to pay up to £460 if their car needs to go to a garage after hitting a pothole.
Williams added: “Highways authorities need to take a ‘traffic light’ approach to road maintenance. Roads in ‘green’ and ‘amber’ conditions should undergo preventative maintenance by filling potholes and carrying out the most appropriate surface dressing treatment between April and September.
“This will seal the roads against water and prevent cracking in the cold winter months. Roads deemed to be in ‘red’ condition need to be fully resurfaced, or strengthened, as no amount of preventative treatment will stop them from falling apart.”
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Last year saw a 50 per cent dip in the amount of roads given preservation treatments
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Commenting on the research, Councillor Darren Rodwell, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said councils shared concerns about the number of roads which hadn't been maintained properly.
He added: "Extra funding promised over the next decade will help and we urge the Government to award council Highways Departments with five yearly funding allocations, so they can develop long-term resurfacing programmes and other significant highways improvements.”
