RAC analysis of official government figures has shown 97% of England’s 183,054-mile local road network received no maintenance of any kind throughout 2023/24.
In total, 4,894 miles of all road types were strengthened, resurfaced or preserved in 2023/24, 'representing an 18% increase (750 miles) in maintenance work compared to the year before (2022/23) when 4,144 miles of roads were improved,' the RAC said.
However, that represents a 35% decline on 2017/18 when 7,510 miles of roads were maintained – 2,616 more miles than in 2023/24 (4,894 miles).
The RAC said that only 5% of A roads were strengthened, resurfaced or preserved totalling 817 miles out of the country’s 17,860 miles of A roads. This is a reduction of 33% from the 1,222 maintained six years prior.
For minor roads, only 4,080 miles of the 165,195 miles of minor roads in England were maintained.
Half of England’s more than 150 highway authorities did not complete any preservation works to prevent the formation of potholes on A roads, with 36% failing to complete any work of this kind on B, C and unclassified roads. This is a rise from 28% of authorities six years ago.
The data showed for those councils that did carry out work, there was an increase in the number of miles treated - 3,309 miles in 2023/24, up from 2,698 miles the previous year.
The RAC analysis also showed that 11% of councils did not resurface any A roads in 2023/24, with 7% neglecting to resurface any minor roads.
However, in total councils resurfaced 1,242 miles of the entire road network in 2023-2024, which is a 2% increase on the 1,223 miles from the year prior.
Gloucestershire County Council claimed pole position for the highest number of resurfaced miles (24 of its 337-mile network), with Surrey resurfacing the highest number of minor roads (2% of its 2,958-mile network).
Staffordshire completed the greatest amount of preservation work for the second year running (9%, or 37 of its 411 miles of A roads), with Norfolk also claiming a two-year streak for the most preservation work on its B, C and U roads (5% of its 5,586 roads).
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: 'Only a slither of England's total road network is getting any maintenance attention whatsoever. This reinforces our belief that most councils are in a cycle of merely filling potholes, rather than looking after their roads properly.
'The bigger picture is far more concerning because it still shows a significant decline in the proportion of our roads strengthened, resurfaced or preserved compared to six years ago.
'We encourage local authorities to focus on permanent solutions rather than trying to patch pothole-ridden roads that are beyond saving. This might include resurfacing or alternatives such as recycling existing materials in-situ. Surface dressing roads in better condition is also important as it ensures they stay that way for longer.
'The longer important preservation work, such as surface dressing, is neglected, the more the pothole problem prevails.'
Chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) also said: 'Preventative road surface treatments offer councils a cost-effective and lower-carbon approach to managing road assets through their lifecycle. If you invested in most other assets, you would invest in periodic treatments to keep that asset in good condition to achieve optimum performance. An asphalt road should be no different.
'This preventative maintenance approach results in roads being kept in good condition for longer, reduces future pothole formation, and allows local authorities to treat more of their road networks.'
