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North East faces 11-year pothole backlog

The North East’s transport infrastructure needs attention if they are to meet the needs of the region, according to the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

A report by ICE North East says the condition of local roads remains “a cause for concern”, as estimates suggest it could take up to 11 years to clear the region’s maintenance backlog.

It also warned that while the 2013/14 flood events showcased the effectiveness of the region’s sea defences, they also highlighted the increasing exposure to extreme weather.

And they’re saying we must “remain vigilant” to the risks of flooding and the need for resilience – and recognise the interdependent relationships between the different infrastructure networks.

ICE North East’s State of the Nation Infrastructure 2014 report grades the various components of the regional infrastructure on a scale of A to E.

Local transport, strategic transport, flood management and energy were all graded “C”, meaning they “require attention”.

Penny Marshall, ICE North East’s regional director, said: “These grades show we have made progress on North East infrastructure, and can be pleased that none of our networks have been rated a D for ‘at risk’ or E for ‘unfit for purpose’.

“However, we can and need to do better across the board. Infrastructure forms the backbone of our regional economy, sustains our quality of life, and protects people from flooding - yet our assessment has shown that some of our vital networks are in need of attention.

“We look forward to seeing further progress made so far being built on – this includes action to tackle the deterioration in our local roads, continued investment in our rail network to ensure we can maximise the benefits of HS2, and ensuring all our networks are resilient in the face of more frequent extreme weather events.

“While we can’t be resilient to every eventuality, and the North East has thankfully not suffered as dramatically from the impacts of severe weather some other parts of the UK, we must remain vigilant.”

The report recommends several measures, including:

• Increase the share of journeys made by public transport, promoting active travel options – such as walking or cycling – for shorter trips
• Improve the condition of local roads to reduce pothole claims and related damage
• Improve the capacity, condition and resilience of strategic road and rail connections
• Complete the process of Electricity Market Reform (EMR) to enable investment in secure, affordable, low carbon energy supplies
• Deliver a clear decarbonisation target for 2030, setting the UK on a pathway to meeting its 2050 commitments
• Promote actions to reduce overall energy demand and improve energy efficiency
• Agree standards of resilience required to maintain and operate infrastructure networks, particularly during extreme weather events

ICE North East represents more than 2,000 civil engineers who live and work in the region.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .