As roads surface conditions in the UK remain critical, potholes represent one of the key maintenance issues. The 2024 ALARM (Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance) survey estimates the backlog of road repairs in England and Wales requires £16.3 billion to rectify! Between 2018 and 2024, drivers spent £9.5 billion on vehicle repairs caused by pothole-related damage.  

In 2024, pothole damage cost motorists £1.48 billion, a 61% increase since 2018. Although this is an improvement from 2023, which saw costs of £1.67 billion, it remains a major issue. The average repair bill for pothole-related damage in 2024 was £120, with over 660,000 car owners incurring costs exceeding £300.  

Recent storms, flooding and severe weather increase wear and tear, accelerating road failures. CIHT’s report Delivering a Resilient Transport Network highlights the impact of extreme weather on road surfaces.  

Maintaining highways and infrastructure is essential for ensuring the transport network’s efficiency and resilience. Incremental infrastructure adaptation and proactive maintenance are critical for addressing extreme weather challenges and supporting decarbonisation goals. 

On December 20, 2024, the Department for Transport announced £1.6 billion in funding for highways authorities across England to repair roads and fill potholes. However, 25% of this allocation is contingent on local authorities demonstrating effective fund utilisation and preventive maintenance efforts. This performance-based funding aims to encourage responsible spending and proactive maintenance strategies.   

CIHT supports the funding increase, as it has previously called for the need in increased funding for local highway maintenance and is pleased to see that these calls are starting to be echoed in this announcement from the government.  

Similarly, the earlier publication of the NAO report “the condition and maintenance of local roads in England” was welcomed by CIHT, as it highlighted the need for proper maintenance of England’s highways network.  

As we look to repurpose our road network to support sustainable transport, we also need to ensure that our footways, cycleways, and highways are properly maintained with adequate funding to help unlock wider societal benefits including improving health and wellbeing.