Asphalt Now, the biannual magazine published by the Ashpalt Industry Alliance, highlights why investment in highway maintenance is important. 

Data from RAC Breakdown shows that in the first three months of 2021 there was a three-fold increase in the amount of drivers who had most likely broken down as a result of hitting a pothole. Nicholas Lyes, RAC Head of Roads Policy, comments: "These figures highlight that the condition of many roads is now in a desperate state. We’ve just had the largest quarterly rise in the number of pothole related breakdowns on record and the problem risks getting even worse as pandemic restrictions are eased and the roads get busier.". 

The magazine also highlights a reduction in funding for the local road network instead of the five-year commitment to investing in local roads that the industry had hoped would have been announced at the Budget announced in March. This viewpoint is supported by the County Councils Network and their economic growth spokesperson Cllr Barry Lewis said: "Unless further funding is made available, our councils will have no choice but to reduce their roads maintenance work this financial year.".

What is supposedly the UK's first carbon neutral road scheme is also highlighted in an article that explains the production techniques used by Highways England on the resurfacing project in Cumbria. This was achieved through a mix of materials innovation, recycling and carbon offsetting. 

For more about road construction and materials, book a ticket to CIHT's Future of Transport - Revitalising Concrete Roads event on 17 June. 

The full magazine is available here.