Rural roads face further deterioration, according to report before Caithness committee
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Deterioration of the road network with a “corresponding risk to the travelling public” will continue so long as investment across Highland falls short of requirements, a report states.
Highland Council’s Caithness committee will later today (Wednesday) decide on whether to approve the current capital programme planned despite it stating that people can expect road surfaces to deteriorate further over the next 12 months.
The news is likely to receive a chilly welcome from roads campaigners who have strived to get sufficient funding but so far the cash-strapped council has not committed to meeting even the minimum requirements of the so-called steady state.
The steady state level of funding would maintain the network so that over the next 12 months it gets neither better nor worse than last year – but for a number of years even this investment has not been forthcoming.
Nor is that likely to change with the council’s finances more pinched than at almost any other time due to the collective impact of rocketing energy prices, the cost-of-living crisis and a Scottish Government budget that it is feared will trigger steep cuts.
Joanne Sutherland, roads operations manager for Caithness and Sutherland, said: “The level of investment across Highland falls short of the budget requirements to maintain a steady state condition of the road network. Deterioration of the overall network will occur with a corresponding risk to the travelling public.
“An increase in damage claims can also be expected, as the road defects develop.”
The routes that are most likely to be affected by the deterioration are those in rural areas which are used less – but which are still vital arteries for many households.
According to Ms Sutherland: “Noting that funding falls short of addressing all of the known defects, low volume and rural routes may be disadvantaged as prioritisation of limited funding dictates.”
Taking into account £10 million of region-wide investment, as well as the baseline contribution from the capital budget and the specific ward allocation, more than £1.2 million will go on Caithness roads this year.
The report contains a total of 114 priority projects across the county along with the cost of the work. The top five are:
- Inlay the U1865 Braal Terrace from the junction to the school, £14,580
- Overlay the B870 the Stanstill to Watten road from Stanstill to Gersa, £67,500
- Inlay the U1755 Bowermadden to Gillock from Bower Primary school junction with B876 £3240
- Inlay the A836 Reay to Thurso Alexanders at Reay village, £32,400
- Inlay the U4080 Manson's Lane junction with Riverside Road, £5400
The meeting of the Caithness committee will take place later today.
