Local place directors have welcomed the Government’s announcement of £1bn to ‘repair and renew’ Britain's ageing roads.
The funding will be targeted towards improving ‘bridges, flyovers and tunnels across Britain’, as well as the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing.
Highlighting that 3,000 bridges have proved unfit to support the heaviest vehicles, the Government warned that ‘urgent action’ was required to reverse a ‘decade of neglect’.
Angela Jones, President of ADEPT, said the investment was ‘desperately needed and represents a significant step forward in addressing the infrastructure crisis facing local authorities across the country’.
Citing ADEPT’s data, Jones revealed ‘4.3% of the 71,925 bridges maintained by local authorities are currently substandard’, indicating the ‘deteriorating state of road structures’ in the UK, which face increased ‘pressure from extreme weather events and climate change’.
‘While today's £1bn investment is a significant first step, it underscores the magnitude of the infrastructure deficit that has built up over years of underinvestment.
‘This is not just a technical issue – it's an economic and social problem that affects communities, businesses and emergency services daily’, added Jones.
To discover how local government can improve highways and roads, download your free copy of How to Fix Local Roads now.
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