The 2005 national road condition survey provides more ammunition for Welsh councils who claim that increased investment is needed to stem a rising maintenance backlog.
Last year’s visual surveys showed a further decline in the state of local roads. Although the modest increase in the defects index might not be statistically significant, the report’s authors concede that road condition has slipped back to its overall level in 2000/01.
Since then, maintenance expenditure on non-trunk roads in the principality has increased in real terms, falling back by 7% – £13M in 2003/04 prices – over the last two years.
The visual picture is backed up by deflectograph surveys on principal roads, where spending was down 20% (£12M). Immediate monitoring was now required on 17%, up one point from the previous year.
Welsh transport minister, ~Andrew Davies~ recently held out the prospect of extra money (Surveyor, 23 March).