The highways wish list: multi-year funding and longer-lasting roads
After last November’s surprise reshuffle at the Department for Transport (DfT), infrastructure operators will be waiting to see what the new Secretary of State might have in store for the sector.? Highways teams especially will be hoping that the recent suggestion of multi-year funding settlements for local roads stays on the table. ?
?
The visibility and certainty of longer-term budgets could be a gamechanger for councils, allowing them to move away from reactive repairs towards a preventative, proactive approach to investment.? So, if the spring Spending Review lives up to expectations, how can local highways teams make the most of this opportunity?? The emphasis has to be on increasing the durability of our roads.? Roads that last longer mean fewer maintenance cycles, less disruption for users and a lower whole-life carbon footprint.? ??
?
Luckily, we already have the technology and the knowledge of how to evolve specifications to deliver this.? Polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) is a good example.? By boosting the performance of the road surface, PMBs reduce the risk of both rutting & cracking and extend the assets lifespan.? Trials show that some PMB mixes could extend a road’s life from seven years to 15 or even 20 years.? Research into how different types of materials will fare when faced with future challenges is well underway.? That includes changing user behaviour as rising numbers of heavier EV vehicles increase the risk of roads rutting, and more extreme weather – from hotter days to record-breaking rainfall.? We are evolving how we lay surfacing too to manage the impact of these conditions.
领英推荐
?
The point is that we have the materials and the techniques ready to go.? They may require more investment upfront, but with multi-year funding, network operators will be able to look beyond short-term horizons – thinking about the benefits and return in the long run from a cost, carbon and community perspective.? If the highways industry gets its wish this spring, we’re ready to deliver.
?
#roads #materials #circularity #durability #funding
IEng MICE MIAT FIHE MCIHT (MIGS) Collaborating to Deliver Specialist Services. Optimising Cost, Time, Carbon & Safety in Pavement / Road Maintenance Operations.
3 周There's been recent posts about new 'self healing roads' which made me raise an eyebrow. A good PMB Surf, already does that. The upper surfacing can limit / prevent the top down cracks, and we have to solutions to limit / prevent the bottom up cracks. The problem clearly isn't the availability of the materials and the resources to professionally install. The main issue is undeniably decades of terrible management of the asset due to significant funding shortfalls. We now find ourselves talking about potholes, which are purely a symptom. In the short term, there are already methods available to 'sweat the asset', if done right. Costs can be reduced up front, and/or whole life. The big issues remain: - Inconsistent management of the asset. - A massive shortfall in funding. - No long term visibility of work. I've got 10+ years left in the industry, and I fear we will be talking about the exact same problems when I get my bus pass.
Great advice
Innovation and Efficiency Manager at Ringway Jacobs
1 个月Totally agree. Longer life materials are the solution. Whether using exotic materials such as Graphene or good old HRA. For potholes that do occur, first time fix solutions need to be used as much as possible.
Technical Director
1 个月Better forward visibility of future funding will help massively when planning the right intervention at the right time
CEO @ Roadmender Asphalt | Innovative Asphalt Solutions
1 个月This has to be the way forward Mark. It’s not the price it’s what it actually costs that counts. ??