ALARM survey

All Roads Lead ALARM 2025 special

27/03/2025

For this month’s special podcast, Dominic Browne and Chris Ames meet David Giles and Ian Lancaster of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) to discuss the AIA’s 2025 Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey and find their way through the smoke and mirrors of highways maintenance funding.

Road condition statistics 'shocking' and 'damning'

21/03/2025

A key figure behind this week’s headline-grabbing survey of local roads has said it is ‘disgusting’ that the country has allowed the network to reach its current state.

ALARM 2025: Backlog at almost £17bn after 'decade of short-term fixes'

18/03/2025

The backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has reached almost £17bn, with roads only being resurfaced every 93 years on average, according to the road industry's flagship survey.

New ALARM research reveals slow pace of decarbonisation

04/10/2024

Exclusive research by the Asphalt Industry Alliance and LCRIG in the annual ALARM survey has uncovered a wide gap between action and intention when it comes to decarbonising local road maintenance.

ALARM 2024: Record £16.3bn backlog reaching 'point of no return'

19/03/2024

The carriageway repair bill for local roads in England and Wales has reached a record high of £16.3bn – double the promised £8bn funding uplift from the Government.

Highways Presents Special: TotalEnergies on how we save our local roads

18/05/2023

Our local roads are in a state of emergency, with a record maintenance backlog of £14bn. Highways magazine talks to two of TotalEnergies' leading experts Richard Ashton and Gary Schofield about how we rescue this situation and pull ourselves back from the brink.

ALARM Survey reaction: 'An embarrassment that is costing lives'

21/03/2023

This year's annual ALARM survey delivered a bruising result: with a record maintenance backlog of £14bn, senior figures across the industry called for a change of strategy and long-term funding.

ALARM Survey 2023: The maintenance backlog hits record £14bn

21/03/2023

The local roads maintenance backlog in England and Wales has hit a record £14bn, an increase of 11%.

ALARM Survey: Road repair backlog soars by more than £2bn

21/03/2022

The cost of the 'pothole backlog’ across England and Wales has jumped by nearly 25% in the last 12 months from £10.24bn to £12.64bn, in a major warning sign of the devastating impact of inflation on the highways sector.

AIA: 'Get involved to sound the alarm'

21/01/2021

Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) chair Rick Green calls on councils to participate in the 2021 ALARM survey so highways maintenance gets the public and political attention it deserves.

ALARM magazine

30/03/2020

Rick Green

29/03/2020

ALARM 2019: Councils turn up the heat with Hammond’s cash

26/03/2019

The Department for Transport has given details of how councils are spending extra £420m the for local road maintenance announced in the Budget, including repairing a historic bridge.

Big Interview: Holding things in check with the AIA chairman

26/03/2019

Dominic Browne meets Rick Green, managing director of Hanson Contracting and chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), which has just published its annual ALARM survey.

ALARM 2019 finds 'haves and have nots'

26/03/2019

Recent increases in local authority highway maintenance budgets appear to be stemming the decline of local roads, according to the publishers of the 24th Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey.

Hammond's £420m for local roads 'should be a first step'

02/11/2018

Two key figures in the highway maintenance industry have said the Budget announcement of a £420m cash boost for councils should lead to a significant long-term increase in funding for local roads.

Cutting ribbons on old roads

23/03/2018

Steve Gooding, former director at the Department for Transport and current director of the RAC Foundation, argues that highway maintenance still does not get the support it deserves.

ALARM: Backlog falls as councils improve asset management - and spend

20/03/2018

This year’s ALARM survey has recorded a triumphant headline result for local authorities in England and Wales with the estimated highways maintenance backlog falling by almost 23% this year to £9.31bn from £12.06bn.

Local roads continue to suffer, ALARM survey finds

23/03/2016

Local roads are deteriorating at a faster rate than they can be repaired, according to Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) chairman Alan Mackenzie. The findings of the latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey reveal that the estimated cost to get the local road network in England and Wales back into reasonable condition is at almost £12 billion.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Head of Parking

£86,274 - £89,667
Our borough is beginning a huge transformation. Redbridge, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Redbridge London Borough Council

Assistant Director Transport and Infrastructure

£115,958 - £120,407
Dumfries and Galloway Council is ambitious for our region. Dumfries and Galloway
Recruiter: Dumfries & Galloway Council

Professional Services Partnering Manager

Grade 13 £49,178 - £52,937 per annum
Shape the Future of Highways
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Civil Enforcement Officer

£25,989 - £27,254 per annum
We’re looking for Civil Enforcement officers to join our parking services team. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Waste and Recycling Manager

£64,355.20 - £70,397.60 per year
As Waste and Recycling Manager your role will be to oversee and manage the Waste Management Services Contract Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Recruiter: Aberdeen City Council

Director of Streets and Environment

£129,901 - £135,064
This is an exciting time to be joining Croydon. Croydon (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: Croydon Council

Highway Maintenance & Drainage Manager

£59,568 - £66,801
As our Highway Maintenance & Drainage Manager Civic Centre, Keynsham
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Director of Transport

£103,292 - £114,280
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was established as a new organisation in early 2024. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

Head of Economic Development

Grade 14 £54,867 - £60,971 per annum
Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the environment and shaping a sustainable future? Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Major Projects Manager

Grade £54,867 - £60,971 per annum
Do you want to make a real difference to ‘place’, be the driving force behind major capital projects and directly impact people’s lives? Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Director of Transport

£112,924
East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is on a bold journey. East Midlands Region
Recruiter: East Midlands Combined County Authority

Highways Network Engineer - WMF2169e

£45,091 - £46,142
This position offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the resilience and effectiveness of our highway network. Kendal,Penrith or Barrow
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highway Network Technician - WMF2168e

£28,598 - £29,540
This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in a specialised area of highways operations while contributing directly Kendal, Penrith or Barrow
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Director of Streetscene

£94,972 - £108,767
We continue to have big ambitions for our borough Fareham, Hampshire
Recruiter: Fareham Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Urban Traffic Control (UTC)

£44,711 - £49,764
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities. Liverpool, Merseyside
Recruiter: Liverpool City Council

Lawyer 2- Planning and Highways

£49,764 - £54,181
We are looking for a fresh thinking and enthusiastic Planning and Highways Lawyer Hereford, Herefordshire
Recruiter: Herefordshire Council

Development Engineer

£35,967 - £41,268 per annum
Are you ready to play a key role in shaping and safeguarding the future of our highways and public spaces? Bexley (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Bexley

Highways Assistant Engineer WMF2133e

£39,513 to £40,476
We have an exciting opportunity for the right person to work within the challenging and ever-changing landscape. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER

£43693 - £46731
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our team in Hull as a Principal Transport Planning Officer. Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recruiter: Hull City Council

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER - 4 POSTS

£43693 - £46731
We have several exciting opportunities for suitably qualified Highways Civil Engineers and Traffic Engineers Wilson Centre, 1st floor, Hull HU1 2AG
Recruiter: Hull City Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW