LGA responds to RAC study of road bridges

“This study underlines the chronic need for more investment in local roads. The backlog of repairs on our existing highways infrastructure as a whole currently stands at over £9 billion and it would take 10 years to fix.

“Flooding events in recent weeks have shown how vital bridges are in linking together communities and enabling shoppers and local traders to go about their business and they are of critical importance to our national economy.

“Long-term investment would allow councils to ensure that our roads and highways infrastructure continue to connect our businesses and communities. We are calling on the Government to use the Budget to reinvest the equivalent of 2 pence per litre of existing fuel duty into local roads maintenance, which would generate £1 billion a year for councils to spend on making our roads and bridges more resilient to extremes of weather and day-to-day use.”