Episode 5

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Published on:

18th Mar 2025

Rethinking Road Maintenance: The 2025 ALARM survey, funding challenges and smarter solutions with the RSTA

We discuss how to drive better value from the highway maintenance funding on this week's Highways Voices, with Mike Hansford, Chief Executive of the RSTA.

"Our approach to road maintenance isn't working," he says, as he asks are we truly making the most of our funding, or are we stuck in an inefficient cycle of reactive repairs?

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In this episode, we discuss with Mike:

*His reaction to the 2025 ALARM survey

*Why the RSTA has produced its own report on the state of the UK road network this week and why the results could be both worse and better than reported

*How do get more value from the funding we do have

*How to incorporate surface treatments in your highway maintenance 

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*Why prevention is always better than cure when it comes to roads

If highway maintenance is in any way your role within local government of contracting, then this is the episode for you. As well as a dive into the insights from the 2025 ALARM survey, it explores why our current approach to road maintenance  may be failing. More importantly, we discuss practical solutions that could transform the way we maintain our road networks — without simply calling for more funding.

Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

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About the Podcast

Highways Voices: Talking Roads and Transport Technology innovation
The highways and transport technology industries' podcast from Highways-News.com
The Highways Voices podcast is a must-listen for professionals in the Highways and Transport Technology industries covering construction, maintenance, Intelligent Transport Systems and Public Transportation.

Presented by leading journalists Paul Hutton and Adrian Tatum, you’ll hear industry leaders sharing insights you won’t hear anywhere else, giving you a taste of the latest thinking about the sector's new techniques and technologies, collaborations and innovations. All in the time it takes for an average daily commute (or dog walk!).

We bring you keynote-speaker quality guests into your phone or laptop, ensuring every time you listen you’ll learn something new you can use in your day-to-day job.

Plus, you'll catch up with the top stories from the daily newsletters sent by Highways-News.com and hear the latest from our podcast partners LCRIG, the TTF, ADEPT and ITS UK.

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Highways Voices

Highways Voices is the weekly podcast from Highways-News.com. In it, Paul Hutton and Adrian Tatum speak to thought leaders, decision makers and inventors in the highways and transport technology industries. New editions are unloaded every Wednesday.