UK's pothole problem worsening

The UK’s pothole problem is worsening across its road network.
By MJ Woof February 28, 2020 Read time: 1 min
The UK’s pothole problem looks set to worsen – image © courtesy of Mike Woof

An insurance firm has highlighted the serious pothole problem facing the UK’s road network due to underinvestment. Zurich UK predicts that the number of potholes across the UK network could jump from 580,636 to more than 650,000 by 2030. The firm derived this prediction on research focussing on the UK’s road condition and the limited spending on improvements.

Zurich UK utilised data compiled by economics consultancy Cebr as the basis for its report. There is a lack of spending by the UK Government on road repairs and for the capital, London, this could result in the number of potholes topping 23,000.

According to Zurich UK, a better approach to risk management is required to target problem areas. This is in spite of plans by the UK Government to spend up to €10.23 billion on road improvements by 2030.

Maintenance

Related Content

  • Better asset management will reduce costs and improve efficiency
    August 22, 2013
    The FEHRL Infrastructure Research Meeting 2013 (FIRM 2013) raised key issues in transport innovation The key theme for FIRM 13 was advanced and innovative construction and maintenance, highlighting the importance of efficient asset management. Infravation, or infrastructure innovation, was another focus area for the event. Joris Al, FEHRL president said, “We aim to bring interested parties together. We’ve decided to build on existing knowledge rather than starting with front edge technologies and working
    Read More
  • AIA’s UK ‘crumbling roads’ survey prompts call for greater Government funding
    March 14, 2013
    The annual national survey of UK local road network condition and funding claims there is a crumbling road crisis of increasing concern, prompting renewed calls for increased and longer term Government funding. Commissioned by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), the 18th Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) Survey was completed by 75% of councils across England and Wales and reports that the number of potholes filled over the last year rose to over two million - an increase of 29% on the previou
    Read More
  • A new event is preparing the asphalt industry for tomorrow’s world
    September 11, 2018
    An inaugural event for the European bitumen industry urged attendees to look to the future - Kristina Smith reports What will tomorrow’s roads look like? Will lanes be narrower, will the road charge vehicles as they drive on them, will they collect data, will they be self-cleaning and de-polluting? All these questions and more were pondered at a two-day conference in Berlin, entitled ‘Preparing the asphalt industry for the future’. It was the first such event for Eurasphalt & Eurobitume (E&E), and set a
    Read More
  • Road safety improving, but vulnerable road users need protection
    January 11, 2013
    Preliminary data from France over the number of fatalities on the road network reveal safety improvements during 2012. The numbers killed dropped by 7-8%, although the final figures for December are not yet available. The preliminary figures suggest that around 3,600-3,700 were killed on French roads in 2012, compared with 3,970 in 2011. This reduction is in line with targets on cutting the death rate and Ministry of the Interior wants to bring the fatality rate to just 2,000 by 2020. This reduction has bee
    Read More

Highlighted Content