Yesterday (10/01/2019) data about the condition and maintenance of roads for 2018 was published by the Department for Transport. Divided by class of road, region and local authority it presents a mixed message of the maintenance backlog and highlights the variation between areas.

For unclassified roads, which make up the largest part of the local road network, the East Midlands was the worst performer with 22 per cent of roads in need of maintenance and the South West the best with just 12 per cent rated the same. The average for England was 17 per cent.

However on local authority maintained 'A' roads conditions were much better, with an average of just 3 per cent of roads in need of maintenance. The RAC report on Motoring 2018 found that the condition and maintenance of local roads was the highest concern of all those surveyed with 42 per cent listing it as an issue.

CIHT is continuing to lobby for investment and reform of the local roads network to match both the Strategic Road Network and the recently announced Major Road Network. Read more here.