The UK’s Road Crisis: Why AI is the Key to Smarter Maintenance

The UK’s road network is at a breaking point. The 2025 ALARM survey report from the Asphalt Industry Alliance reveals that local authorities in England and Wales are struggling with a road repair backlog of nearly £17 billion. A pothole is being filled every 18 seconds, yet the overall condition of the roads continues to deteriorate.

Independent AI-driven assessments suggest the problem is even worse than official reports indicate. Some analyses indicate that the percentage of roads in poor condition is significantly higher than previously thought. With local councils facing mounting challenges, it is clear that traditional road maintenance methods are no longer sufficient. AI-driven solutions offer a smarter, more cost-effective approach to tackling this growing crisis.

|  Why Traditional Road Assessments Are Failing

For years, local authorities have relied on traditional road inspection methods that are time-consuming and expensive and often fail to capture early warning signs of deterioration. These outdated approaches lead to inaccurate reports and ineffective maintenance strategies.

Recent AI-driven assessments have revealed a growing gap between reported road conditions and reality:

• Roads in mid-life condition—neither new nor critically failing—are vastly underreported and underserved.

• The percentage of roads in poor condition is significantly higher than official figures suggest.

Without accurate, integrated data, councils struggle to make informed decisions. This disconnect forces them into reactive repair strategies, which cost more over time and fail to address the root of the problem. Strategic, preventative maintenance is only possible with reliable insights into actual road conditions.

|  A Smarter Way to Manage Roads

AI-powered road assessment tools offer a transformational shift in managing road networks. These technologies provide highly detailed data that enables councils to:

• Identify high-risk road segments before they deteriorate into pothole-ridden surfaces.
• Optimise maintenance schedules, prioritising preventative treatments over costly emergency repairs.
• Secure funding by presenting robust, data-driven evidence of road deterioration.
• Save millions by ensuring utility roadworks meet required standards and using cost-effective preventative maintenance.

At INSPECH, we believe that AI is essential for achieving long-term cost savings and safer roads. AI-driven solutions provide the insights needed to move from reactive fixes to proactive maintenance, ultimately extending road life and reducing overall costs.

|  The Future of AI in UK Road Maintenance

The UK government is starting to recognize the need for innovation in infrastructure management. The upcoming PAS2161:2024 standard aims to modernise road condition data collection, enabling councils to prioritise maintenance more effectively using AI-driven insights on recent data.

Current road maintenance often suffers from limited funding and infrequent data collection, leading to inaccurate assessments. PAS2161 aims to address this by offering alternative data collection methods that simplify and increase the frequency of inspections. This ensures public reports better reflect road conditions and allows authorities to identify issues early.

By shifting towards proactive maintenance, PAS2161 helps prevent problems before they escalate, improving safety and reducing costs. Ultimately, this move towards AI-powered assessments will make road maintenance more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective in the long run.

|  A Call for Smarter Investment

Short-term pothole repairs or outdated assessment methods will not solve the UK’s road crisis. It requires a data-driven approach—leveraging AI to boost productivity, optimize budgets, and make every pound count in times of financial constraint. By doing more with less, councils can reduce waste and begin reversing the decline.

AI-powered solutions like INSPECH provide more than just analysis—they enable faster, better-informed decisions, helping councils shift from reactive fixes to proactive maintenance. With real-time insights, local teams can prevent small issues from becoming major problems, reducing costs and improving long-term road conditions.

The time for smarter, AI-led infrastructure investment is now. By integrating these tools, councils can take control of their road networks and build a more sustainable future.

Curious about how AI can fit into your road maintenance strategy?
See INSPECH in action—schedule a free demo today!