BRE claims roads underspend has huge pollution side effect

Environmental pollution is a huge unexpected side effect of underspending on road maintenance, according to the latest research from the Building Research Establishment.

The warning about environmental pollution being caused by poor road maintenance comes from BRE research into the use of industrial by-products in road construction.

Researchers say that groundwater is at risk from leachate pollution caused by "fully constructed pavement surfaces becoming badly deteriorated or excessively cracked."

The BRE findings come as the County Surveyors' Society called for closer relationships between clients and suppliers "if the worst effects of roads budget cuts are to be avoided."

CSS president David Hutchinson warned that "the quality of the UK highways network has never been under greater pressure."

Recent research by the Refined Bitument Association among highway maintenance authorities indicates how much worse are the conditions of roads.

The RBS findings say that over the last 10 years visual defects have increased by two-thirds and the need for structural maintenance to roads has risen by nearly 60 per cent.

The survey also claims that there is a 65 year waiting list in England for road surfacing and a 99 year wait in London, although the recommended period for resurfacing is 10 to 12 years.

Nearly one third of maintenance budgets are now being spent on reactive instead of preventative maintenance, said the RBS.

Maintenance is improving in some areas through private sector management. This week the Highways Agency awarded Tarmac Quarry Products two contracts worth a total of œ26.4 million to manage and maintain roads in Yorkshire over the next three years.