DoT will spend 130bn over 10 years to improve roads
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• by David Craik The Department of Transport has pledged to improve the terrible condition of Britain's roads in the next 10 years by implementing a major repair programme. A code of practice drawn up between the DoT, the Highways Agency, the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Audit Commission and local authorities is designed to tackle the backlog of maintenance projects on roads, footways, bridges and street lighting before 2011. Essential maintenance is behind schedule on some 4,100 bridges.
Transport Minister David Jamieson says: This new code is ground breaking. The neglect on local roat take a long time to put right, but we committed ourselves to doing it."
The first target is to stop the fur deterioration of roads and footway! 2004, and Jamieson promises extra fur to pay for this: "The 10-year plan pro\ 30bri for local highway maintenance."
A spokeswoman for the Road Has Association says: "We obviously welc the code, but we have heard ti promises before and they have corn nothing. The surfaces on our motorv and our A-roads are appalling. Let's t this plan is not just paper pushing and something will finally happen this time.'