Britain's roads!

[Zep]

The issue as I understand it is how the contracts for road maintenance are procured (as usual).

Local councils, instead of running their own road maintenance departments have looked to outsource. So they package it up and put it out to tender. The contractors price to do the maintenance of a fixed cost basis, including the survey of failing roads, and their profits are then based on how well they can sweat the asset.

The result, for local roads, is a short term approach with surveyors incentivised to only go for patch repairs when they can’t find a technical reason to not do it at all and resurfacing is only carried out when it is cheaper than multiple patch repairs. Then there is the quality of the materials and workmanship to consider.

It’s a pretty sad state of affairs, but is unlikely to change while central government trouser the road fund licence receipts and give out a fraction to local governments to pay for repairs. They then cap council tax rises that might make up the shortfall.

It’s a broken system, run by people with vested interests to keep it broken, and no real alternatives, politically speaking.

 

[mjheathcote]

The top surface, especially off major routes around here is breaking away, especially after the cold spell and snow.
The passive firm suspension on my M140i is harsh the best of times, but its almost unbearable driving locally now.
Can't wait for warmer weather to enjoy the ride with comfy 195/70 tyres on my Stag!!

 

[Nibby]

I know we moan but it must be downright dangerous for a motorbike.
There’s such an emphasis on safety in some areas but they allow roads to have craters.

 

[c4sman]

Roads here in Sussex are shocking, Wayz is your friend with its pot hole warnings and amazing how many people take the time to report them as it’s reasonably up to date. I’m not into 4x4s but increasingly tempted to get something built for off roading as on road increasingly feels like the former. South London is just as bad.

 

[zagatoes30]

Major roads here are generally good but some of the lanes can be quite bad. We have a couple of guys in a Co. Wexford truck filling potholes daily on the back roads, only temp fixes but done frequently so stops them growing bigger.

 

[Wack61]

The issue as I understand it is how the contracts for road maintenance are procured (as usual).

Local councils, instead of running their own road maintenance departments have looked to outsource. So they package it up and put it out to tender

2010 I think that bad winter was, I had a job to Buckingham, came off the M1 and it was really bad, about a foot of snow which had been compacted, the Northants stretch was mostly single carriageway then in bucks dual carriageway

The snowploughs were out in bucks, they'd cleared one side of the dual carriageway then to my utter astonishment instead of carrying on to the M1 they turned round at the county border and cleared the other lane

I was towing an empty trailer going back, even at 20mph it jacknifed because by then it was solid ice , luckily nothing coming the other way.

Utterly ridiculous they didn't go to the M1 but as you say, contractors

 

[davy83]

I went climbing yesterday, and it was a 140 mile round trip to get there and back, and didn't encounter a single pothole. The roads were gritted (it was pretty cold and had been snowing the night before) and i didn't hit any untreated roads. And the only thing i can really complain about it my 3200 is not on the road just now and so I was not driving it!!!

 

[midlifecrisis]

Driving up to Manchester last Friday and I was shocked at the delamination of tarmac from the surface on the M6. Particularly in between lanes and you have to watch out for them as you move across. Clearly not fit for purpose.

 

[Murray C]

If our vehicle has to be roadworthy to drive on the road, surely our roads need to be fit for purpose as well

 

[midlifecrisis]

If our vehicle has to be roadworthy to drive on the road, surely our roads need to be fit for purpose as well

You'd think...but naively...

 

[lozcb]

Thank goodness for Facebook otherwise people would come on here and rant about pointless ****.

you got me for that

 

[lozcb]

It’s a broken system, run by people with vested interests to keep it broken, and no real alternatives, politically speaking.

Bit like UN and South Sudan then really ,

 

[Gazcw]

you got me for that

Yeah, but we need Plan B for when you are on the naughty step.

 

[Nibby]

Someone on Pistonheads said where he is, don’t know where, the council are going out with the gritters tonight, not sure if it will be the case in a lot of the country. Thought we’d seen the last of the salt on the roads this Winter, be better of sending trucks out with tarmac on board rather than salt.

 

[Gazcw]

Someone on Pistonheads said where he is, don’t know where, the council are going out with the gritters tonight, not sure if it will be the case in a lot of the country. Thought we’d seen the last of the salt on the roads this Winter, be better of sending trucks out with tarmac on board rather than salt.

Just taxed and filled the strad with E5. And now I have to put it away because the salty dogs are out again!

 

[Nibby]

Just taxed and filled the strad with E5. And now I have to put it away because the salty dogs are out again!

Round your way too then.
Just as I’m typing this the news is on and Saudi Arabia are cutting back on oil production, so at least you got a tank of E5 whilst it was cheap.

 

[Wack61]

Round your way too then.
Just as I’m typing this the news is on and Saudi Arabia are cutting back on oil production, so at least you got a tank of E5 whilst it was cheap.

Isn't there something going on with oil and the US Dollar as well, I'm sure whatever happens the price will increase because of it

 

[Nibby]

Isn't there something going on with oil and the US Dollar as well, I'm sure whatever happens the price will increase because of it

Something going on.
They always use to jack the price up here when people started travelling more when the better weather started. Normally with some excuse.

 

[Wack61]

Found this online for reporting potholes, you ID them and they chase up the council to fix them

www.fillthathole.org.uk

 

[midlifecrisis]