National road infrastructure not fit for purpose, says Logistics UK

Even with industry’s efforts to accelerate the modal shift from road freight to other modes of transport to meet decarbonisation targets, roads will remain the primary means of moving goods for the foreseeable future.

But according to Logistics UK, the road network as it currently stands is falling woefully short of the many economic demands that are expected of it.

“The national road infrastructure, on which our industry relies, does not currently meet the needs of a modern economy,” said Jonathan Walker, the business group’s Head of Cities and Infrastructure Policy, “with a lack of driver facilities, outdated technologies and significant ‘pinch points’ of high congestion and low capacity all acting as barriers to the flow of goods across the country.”

The 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads in England currently carry a third of all traffic and two-thirds of all freight. As the main connection link within the country, the road network requires constant investment, maintenance and improvement to ensure it is fit for purpose and sustainable.

“As the country faces significant environmental and financial pressures, it is vital that road investment is scrutinised and assessed as to whether it is providing value for money and delivering for the economy,” Walker said.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM RIS2

In March 2020, government published its Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2), running from April 2020 to March 2025, which outlined its intention to spend £27.4 billion on the strategic road network. The Department for Transport (DfT) committed £14.1 billion to 69 road enhancement projects, but the budget was later reduced by £3.4 billion and the total number of projects that DfT requires National Highways to deliver by 2025 was decreased. As government and National Highways prepare their five-year investment strategy from 2025-2030, focus is now solely on how effectively money has been spent during the current strategy period.

Following an evaluation through the National Audit Office report, which found that National Highways’ 2020-25 spending programme (RIS2) will deliver fewer schemes than planned at a far higher cost than intended, Parliament’s Transport Committee launched an inquiry to see what lessons can be learned ahead of the next five-year period.

LOGISTICS UK ENGAGES WITH INQUIRY

Logistics UK has engaged with this inquiry, providing both written and verbal evidence to the Committee, stating that it is essential government sticks to its commitment to developing a national freight network. This will require government constructing a detailed, thorough approach to policies affecting the network and considering how to connect our key freight hubs, industrial and population centres and busiest routes.

“Having supported the ambition of RIS2 in seeking to address many of the concerns of the logistics industry, it is inevitably a major disappointment for industry that the programme will fall short,” Walker said, “While a number of factors leading to delays and cost overruns for these enhancements are beyond the control of National Highways, these factors were compounded by deficiencies in risk management. The net result of this has been a significant reduction in the number of completed schemes compared to what the logistics industry would have expected.”

A MORE EFFICIENT PROCESS NEEDED GOING FORWARDS

Walker argues that as industry looks ahead to the next five-year strategy, there is a clear need for a more effective and efficient process around the planning of major enhancements to ensure schemes can move swiftly from concept to delivery.

“A relentless focus on moving schemes through the planning system will be needed for the long term to avoid further delays to programmed enhancements,” he said, “It is also vital that each short-term investment plan is part of a longer-term vision for the future of our infrastructure networks.”

CALL FOR 30-YEAR PLAN

Logistics UK has called for the development of a 30-year plan owned jointly between the government and logistics sector to deliver a national freight network, including all transport, warehousing and other facilities, so that businesses can invest with confidence.

Walker concludes: “The delays in the RIS2 pipeline must not be seen as a reason to reduce the scale and/or scope of the next roads investment strategy. With inflation running high in recent months, difficult choices will undoubtedly need to be made and wherever possible, government’s focus needs be on speeding up the delivery of enhancements, rather than curtailing ambition and hindering the growth of our industry in response.”

*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns/investing-in-infrastructure

Published On: 23/03/2023 16:00:38

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