Nearly half of all road users (43%) believe that major highway renewals take priority over local road repairs, according to a survey by the software technology firm Yotta.

 

This is despite nearly twice as many people polled saying that they have complained about the condition of local roads at least once (44%), compared to complaints about large A roads and motorways (18%).

 

“When almost half care enough about the state of their neighbourhood roads to contact authorities about their experience then it is clear that people are dissatisfield with the way budgets are allocated,” said company director Simon Topp.

 

At a highways sector discussion in London last week Mouchel director and CIHT Vice President Mathew Lugg commented: “When there is a limited budget, decisions to prioritise investment will always be made where they will have most impact such as on major roads which are most important to the economy. When money is tight authorities should base their investment decisions on good asset management.”

 

University of Derby programme leader Dr Tony Stock said that he has noticed a deterioration of roads and surrounding infrastructure over the past five years, with vegetation obscuring road signs on his daily journey.

 

 

(Photo: Alastair Lloyd)