Originally Posted by
jon1959
I think it is a national problem after decades of underinvestment (especially since the 2010 Austerity Cult took charge) and a huge rise in traffic. Didn't Hunt throw a few quid at potholes in his recent budget?
In Sheffield the roads were amongst the worst of any city in the UK by the mid 2000s. The Council got into a 25 year PFI deal with Amey to renew and maintain the roads, verges, highway trees (leading to a very embarrassing 'tree scandal' that is still rumbling on). The first roads were re-surfaced in 2012. We live above the 'snow line' and are on a busy school and bus route - so more hammer than many - but the rate of deterioration of a 'new' road surface was shocking. Deep gouges, potholes and tons of gravel washing downhill. The road we live on has just been re-done for the second time since the original 2012 surfacing works (three times in under 12 years). It looks like another superficial, crap job to me that won't last 5 years. Is this the way all major contractors deal with roads now?
However, there is a 50m stretch of road just outside our house that was replaced by Yorkshire Water after a mains burst about 7-8 years ago with a different contractor and spec from Amey. It is perfect.