Paying less for pavements Available to Purchase

The poor state of UK public finances has forced a re-examination of expenditure across most transport-related areas and the Highways Agency has been tasked with delivering ‘more for less’ across all areas of its business. This paper describes the process for delivering savings on pavement assets, from expenditure analyses through to implementation of ‘quick-win’ efficiency measures. It deals with the difficulties in forming reliable cost benchmarks, identifying real cost-saving opportunities, risks and benefits realisation. This work is a small component of a much wider asset management programme that is concerned with continual cost efficiency and best value, delivered through applying the right intervention at the right time. Examples of the initiatives being adopted included targeted maintenance techniques, ultra-thin surfacing, less conservative designs and improved project delivery.