REA urges a commitment to sustainable, long-term maintenance

The Road Emulsion Association (REA) has called for a robust focus on preventative highways maintenance to combat the pervasive issue of potholes on UK roads.

Representing all UK bitumen emulsion manufacturers, the REA is urging the new Labour government to provide substantial support and funding for local authorities to enhance the use of surface dressing which can extend the life of roads by 10 to 15 years per application and can be applied on numerous occasions over the life of the road.

Surface dressing prevents water ingress, reducing cracks and potholes from forming in the first place. It is also a more sustainable solution with up to 75% less bitumen and up to 80% less aggregate per square metre than thin asphalt surface courses.

The deteriorating condition of the nation’s local road network was high on the political agenda during the recent general election campaign and the statistics underscore the urgency of the problem.

In 2023/2024 one pothole was filled every 16 seconds at an annual cost of £143.5 million. Meanwhile use of surface dressing was at its lowest level since records began in 1978, and less than half of what it was 11 years ago.

Kevin Maw, business secretary and consultant, REA, said, “We can turn this situation around. Good roads do still exist and that is because the local authority in that area has invested in preventative measures such as surface dressing, while still tackling other roads riddled with potholes.

“Preventative and reactive maintenance can co-exist within the same strategy, but the emphasis must be on prioritising planned preventative maintenance processes to reduce the need for high-cost reactive responses.

“However to do this effectively, local authorities need to be properly funded. Not just with pothole funds that are simply a sticking plaster, but with long-term maintenance budgets that allow councils to manage their assets properly.”