Whether it’s issues with concrete coating or slope stabilization, the poor performance of the roads sector is serving as a brake where the growth of the wider economy is concerned.
This is according to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association’s (CECA’s) latest Workload Trends Report, which has found that workloads have dropped on motorways and trunk roads, as well as local roads, compared with 12 months ago.
The organisation is now calling on the government to ensure that they unlock planned investment in this particular sector so that civil engineering consultants can deliver on a network of roads that is capable of sustaining predicted levels of demand.
Head of external affairs with the CECA Marie-Claude Hemming said: “The roads network is integral to the UK’s economy. We must take steps to ensure investment in the sector is implemented in a timely and efficient manner, to prevent it acting as a hindrance to wider economic growth.”
New research from analyst firm Bernstein has predicted that the number of cars on roads around the world will almost double by the year 2040. By then, it’s expected that there will be two billion cars in use globally, so it’s vital that the UK government does all it can to ensure there is a strong road network in Britain that can accommodate the growing number of vehicles.
This means new roads, yes, but also requires regular maintenance of the roads in existence. Without this, it’s unlikely that the country will be able to support more cars easily, without motorists facing increasing problems like crumbling roads, sinkholes and potholes.