GPSJ Autumn 2024 ONLINE - Flipbook - Page 8
GPSJ
ROADS & HIGHWAYS
Maintaining highways:
A constant challenge for
government departments
Government departments
are facing seemingly ever
decreasing budget allocations,
creating a knock on effect for
every service that they provide.
Cuts that are amongst the
largest in living memory. In one
case, one county council has
been asked to find £70 MILLION
of budget savings.
Different thinking is required.
Not just innovative but
practical. Products, services,
and solutions that are budget
friendly are more important
than ever. Indeed, long-term
solutions steeped in costeffectiveness are becoming the
holy grail for local authorities
who continue to battle against
need versus availability.
8
Maintaining highways is a constant
challenge for national and local
government departments, and
one of the most significant issues
they face is ensuring the durability
and longevity of their infrastructure,
particularly important as this is closely
linked to the additional challenge,
the sustainability of solutions as
departments come under more
and more pressure to meet CO2
reduction targets.
Rightly or wrongly, we know
there will be a certain percentage
of those looking for a solution will
decide based purely on cost.
So cost-effectiveness is vital too.
How something is done, and the
comparative associated costs,
are more important than just price
of materials. Decisions should be
about a long-term approach, yet
also the all-important low installation
cost. Solutions need to match the
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL AUTUMN 2024
asset life, not just the minimum
maintenance term.
Solutions designed to be low
maintenance, which means that
they directly contribute to reduce the
overall cost of maintaining highway
infrastructure both in the short and
long term by reducing the need for
repairs and maintenance, help to
save money in the long term.
Reducing the cost of maintenance
and repairs in the long term, frees
up budget for other projects and
initiatives. Durability ensures that
the infrastructure remains safe and
reliable for years to come, reducing
the risk of accidents, damage
to vehicles, and subsequently –
damages claims against already cash
strapped councils.Government
& Public Sector Journal will
be looking at several pioneering
solutions around safety for highways
workers in our new ‘Highways in
Focus’ section next year. We will
be looking at solutions aimed at
reducing risk to roads and highways
contractors and reducing abuse to
workers. From signage, traffic control,
safety barriers, to new surfacing
and ironwork technology. We will
run articles, comment, and opinion
pieces from professionals within the
UK highways industry, along with
relevant input from key government
bodies and departments.
If you are interested in
contributing to the new
highways section please
contact the editor, Stuart
Littleford: editor@gpsj.co.uk
