By Tom Austin-Morgan

The UK government’s announcement of a £1 billion Structures Fund marks a significant intervention in the management of ageing bridges, tunnels, and flyovers across the nations. For the transportation industry, this funding is more than a fiscal allocation, it is a response to a pressing structural and safety challenge that has developed over decades of underinvestment.

Across the country, the condition of the nation’s bridges has become increasingly unsustainable. According to the RAC Foundation, around one in every 25 council-maintained road bridges – approximately 3,090 out of 71,925 – are classified as substandard, meaning they cannot carry the heaviest 44-tonne lorries legally permitted on UK roads. These restrictions directly affect freight efficiency, agricultural operations, and emergency response.

The RAC Foundation’s joint survey with ADEPT (Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport) highlighted the depth of the challenge: local authorities estimated that more than £5.8 billion would be required to clear the bridge maintenance backlog alone.

This backlog has real-world consequences. Data published by the RAC Foundation reveals a worrying insight into structural failures, with 17 full collapses and 37 partial collapses recorded in a single year across the UK (2021), which was up 70% from 2020. While many failures occurred on minor rural roads, the systemic risks are clear: as assets age without adequate renewal, the probability of disruption and potential hazard increases.

The launch of the Structures Fund has been welcomed by professional organisations. ADEPT described the investment as a “significant step forward” in tackling the infrastructure crisis facing local authorities, particularly given the resource constraints at regional and county level. CIHT, meanwhile “[welcomed] the creation of the Structures Fund and the commitment of the government to enhance the resilience of transport infrastructure”.

Building future resilience

While the immediate focus is on restoring the carrying capacity and safety of thousands of structures, the Structures Fund also has a strategic role. The DfT has explicitly linked the programme to wider objectives of climate resilience and adaptation to changing transport demands. 

Bridges and tunnels are critical nodes in the network, vulnerable not only to structural fatigue but also to flooding, scour, and extreme weather. Addressing these vulnerabilities now reduces long-term risks and provides the foundation for a transport system capable of supporting both economic activity and decarbonisation objectives.

For engineers and policymakers alike, the Structures Fund represents recognition at the highest level of the risks posed by deteriorating infrastructure. 

By aligning targeted investment with established inspection protocols and institutional expertise, it creates the conditions for safer, more reliable, and more sustainable transport networks. Yet, with a maintenance backlog approaching £6 billion, the scale of the challenge remains formidable. 

Read more: CIHT welcomes additional £1bn funding for bridge, road and tunnel resilience