CPA urges return of road survey

The Construction Products Association (CPA) is urging transport minister John Spellar to review the Highways Agency's (HA) decision to stop producing a survey on the structural condition of the motorway and trunk road network.

The annual National Road Maintenance Condition Survey usually comprises both a visual survey and a structural survey. But the HA has stopped producing the structural part and has yet to give an explanation for the decision.

In a letter to Spellar, CPA president Roy Harrison said: "Our concern is that the survey no longer includes information on structural conditions as a result of the agency's decision to cease routine surveys of the network.

"This seems to defeat the whole object of having output targets as it will be impossible to see whether what you have set out to achieve is being delivered.

"I hope you will review this decision. If not, how are the government, MPs, and the electorate going to know whether the HA is maintaining the strategic road network at its desired 'optimum' level, and what resources need to be allocated to achieve this?" he said.