UK: Pothole-free guarantee for five years?

Contractors and utilities companies in the UK could be guaranteeing roads to be pothole-free for five years, according to new proposals. At the moment, the guarantee is two years but the Department for Transport is conducting an eight-week public consultation on the subject. Street Works UK, which represents the utilities sector, argues that the an increase is not needed. The department is also seeking more innovation into how to better repair potholes, such as using asphalt with a higher bitumen c
March 12, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
Pothole panic: Contractor guarantee against potholes could rise from two to five years

Contractors and utilities companies in the UK could be guaranteeing roads to be pothole-free for five years, according to new proposals.

At the moment, the guarantee is two years but the Department for Transport is conducting an eight-week public consultation on the subject.

Street Works UK, which represents the utilities sector, argues that the an increase is not needed.

The department is also seeking more innovation into how to better repair potholes, such as using asphalt with a higher bitumen content.

Last October the UK government promised local authorities in England an extra €488 million to repair damaged roads and to keep bridges safe.

The Asphalt Industry Alliance, many of whose members repair potholes, has claimed that one in five local roads in England and Wales is in a poor condition. The groups also says that more than €9 billion is needed to make the repairs.

Maintenance

Related Content

  • England’s motorways not safe enough for 80mph limit, says RSF
    May 11, 2012
    England’s motorway network is not safe enough to have the speed limit raised to 80mph, according to a new report from the Road Safety Foundation (RSF). Titled ‘Unfit for 80’, the report says poorly-maintained and inadequate roadside protection and the rapidly rising risk of shunt crashes from the sheer volume of traffic using England’s motorways are key factors of safety concern. The RSF document has been published while the Government continues to consider a review of the motorway speed limit. Last autumn,
    Read More
  • Better maintenance is on the Horizon for UK’s Warrington Council
    May 15, 2018
    Good, readable analysis of road surfaces to ensure sufficient maintenance funding is an essential part of asset management. The technical side of ensuring a good road surface is integral to maintaining safe, superior highway infrastructure. But securing sufficient government funding for such work – repairs and new-build – based on the current road surface is also essential. To evaluate road conditions and structure for such a business case, one UK local council turned to software provider Yotta.
    Read More
  • New international trade crossing linking Canada and US
    June 9, 2015
    The Detroit River is short, only 45km, and narrow in places, less than 1km. Around a quarter of the annual $658 billion Canada-US trade crosses over the river. That’s $160 billion worth of goods trucked each year between Detroit in the US state of Michigan and the Canadian city of Windsor in the province of Ontario - the Windsor-Detroit Corridor. There are several types of crossings, but the vast majority of commercial traffic must use the 2.3km Ambassador Bridge (see box). A new bridge was initially prop
    Read More
  • Italian firms’ more global vision
    February 22, 2013
    At a diminished Asphaltica exhibition, many of Italy’s asphalt sector companies spoke of the importance of overseas markets. Kristina Smith spoke to some of the firms seeking export success. Italy’s 6th Asphaltica show, held in Padua in November last year, provided a snapshot of the challenging economic conditions faced by the country. 2012 was the year when Italy felt the impact of the economic crisis which many other European countries had already suffered. Reflecting this, the exhibition was half the siz
    Read More

Highlighted Content