Three reasons why road maintenance is necessary

In today’s consumerist culture, many of us will simply use something until it’s beyond repair, and replace it. Road maintenance is one task, though, which you will always benefit from maintaining, rather than ignoring.

Poorly maintained roads can cause safety issues and cause accidents, can damage vehicles, and will cost more in the long-run.

There are three basic ways to maintain a road – take preventative measures, take corrective measures, and opt for replacement. Replacement is almost always the most cost-heavy option of the three – and road maintenance helps you delay getting to that stage. 

The costs of unmaintained roads

Unmaintained roads come with a handful of negative side-effects. Here are some of the main dangers:

• The road becomes less durable, and therefore unable to withstand regular traffic use
• The road becomes untidy, reflecting poorly on the neighbourhood
• The road becomes an inefficient traffic artery, negatively impacting economic growth in the area and the social benefits that come with that
• The roads increase vehicle operating costs for drivers, as they have to drive inefficiently to navigate the problems the road throws up
• The roads impede vital access, such as during emergency situations
• The roads add to a future bill. Maintenance now costs much more than replacement more regularly. 

Three key reasons why road maintenance is necessary

Roads are used every day by millions of people whether that’s vehicle owners, people driving for work, cyclists or pedestrians. When you think about how much traffic these surfaces experience, the importance of road maintenance becomes clear, not only from a safety aspect but resistance too.

Here are three of the most important reasons why road maintenance is necessary, to summarise from above:

The risk of accidents is reduced

Roads must be safe. Minimising any risks coming from the surface itself is a no-brainer when so many other safety aspects of driving are situation-specific.  

If roads are not maintained properly, potholes, loose debris and weather damage can become serious hazards. With the right care, the risk of accidents can be reduced for all road users and minimise the chances of collisions. Damaged roads can also affect cars and bikes by ruining the tyres and suspension, whilst well-maintained roads will prevent this from happening.

Roads stay durable, saving money

Maintenance such as road surfacing is a great way of keeping roads level and smooth. Roads must be durable enough to withstand a certain amount of usage without becoming too weak. Skid-resistant surfacing and similar solutions can also help with this so the roads remain strong. 

Repairs that go a long time without attention will only get worse and become more of a hazard – treating problems at an early stage minimises the cost of a huge job when the damage is all-pervasive.

The appearance stays tidy

Untidy roads that are full of damage do not look good, and give a poor reflection on the local community they cut through. Whether it’s on a residential road or ring road, maintenance is important for keeping our roads looking their best, as well as keeping them safe. Deterioration of roads can make an area look unkempt and when repairs are left for too long damage will only get worse.

At Hazell & Jefferies, based in Oxford, we are a family-owned business which prides itself on quality service and quality work. Our main areas of work include road surfacing, skip hire, supplying recycled aggregates and small civil engineering works. If you’re looking for a reliable company to help with your project, look no further than us. Get in touch with our team today for more information.