Urgent need for investment in road network says RHA

Enhancements and maintenance of the UK’s national and local roads must start without delay if hauliers across the country are to expand and help the economy grow, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA). The RHA’s comments came after Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, had commented in a speech today to the House of Commons that in 2040, without investment now, almost a quarter of the time motorists spend on the road network will be whilst sat in traffic. The government’s planned investment of more than £28 billion into the road network from next year up until 2020 will be “the greatest investment in our roads since the 1970s”, Alexander said. £10bn was also committed by the government to repairing roads up and down the country between 2015-16 and 2020-21. Geoff Dunning, Chief Executive of the RHA, said: “Of course we are pleased to hear that the Treasury is to invest... in enhancements and maintenance of national and local roads”. But the RHA felt that money allocated to road repairs had come too late. Dunning said: “The past couple of years have seen many road users faced with appalling driving conditions as a result of extreme weather.” “The knock-on effects, coupled with under-investment in maintenance over many years, have seen many side roads, in particular those leading to industrial sites and other areas, left in a condition that can be both dangerous and damaging to vehicles,” he continued. “It is vital that these improvements start now - waiting until next year for this work to start is not an option”, Dunning concluded.