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Delays In Investment Could Compromise Safety As ‘Disquiet’ In State Of Assets Grows, Ice WarnsPostponing investment in the UK’s transport infrastructure could lead to serious safety concerns against a backdrop of “disquiet” concerning the state of assets, a new report by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has warned. The ICE’s new State of the Nation report, titled Infrastructure in 2025, identifies urgent areas that require strategic funding and long-term planning, focusing on transport, energy and water systems. It states that there are serious concerns that are emerging regarding the condition of critical infrastructure, particularly ageing highways assets, and more must be done to ensure the safety of the UK public going forward. The report further reveals how there exists a growing disquiet about the resilience of many transport assets, with bridges being the biggest concern. This information was gleaned from three roundtable discussions the ICE held between technical experts working across the UK. As quoted in the report, the experts said: “Parts of the transport network are perhaps not as safe as the public thinks, while some structures should have usage restrictions but don’t.” ICE further reports that across Europe highway authorities have been expressing grave concerns about the state of their assets. On 16 April 2024, members of the Conference of European Directors of Roads issued a stark warning about the deterioration of key infrastructure they own and operate. Discussing this, the report cites the Dublin declaration, signed by national authorities collectively managing more than 1M.km of highways. The declaration states: “The preservation of the pan-European road network requires close attention, as it is showing its age after decades of service. “This particularly concerns the most critical parts of our networks: our bridges and tunnels.” While ICE makes it clear that highways are deteriorating, not just in the UK, but all over Europe, it is also keen to point out how there is a degree of inertia around engineers highlighting the need to do something. Experts at the roundtables concluded: “How should professionals communicate when it’s not the case that a structure is ‘going to fall down tomorrow’ but it has changed from being acceptably safe to unacceptably safe?” With this in mind, the ICE is urging more engineers to come forward regarding the dangers posed by the ageing assets before it’s too late. The report states: “Members need to be honest about the risks such assets carry, which means helping non-technical decision-makers to understand the ramifications of choosing to invest elsewhere. “If such facts [the dangers and disquiet about them] were more widely known, the government would have to act. “Engineers need to warn policy-makers about the risks. Politicians don’t tend to grasp these until an asset fails. Even then, the attention that a problem receives in the media and political sphere tends to be fleeting – and promises can be clawed back.” The report further highlights the accelerating impact of climate change on the UK’s aging infrastructure, suggesting that without prompt investment, the safety and reliability of essential services could be severely compromised. ICE is urging policymakers to break away from the cycle of short-term thinking and to engage in collaborative planning that prioritises long-term solutions. It states: “Another difficult conversation is needed about the prevailing maintenance practice that can be described as changing the brake pads while driving. “One-year funding windows, budget cuts and the advancing age of assets have been rendering this approach unfeasible. But, in any case, it’s not fair on the front-line workers who must often make repairs in dangerous conditions while facing the ire of frustrated road users.” In order to combat the issues, the ICE has warned that some structures may require usage restrictions and is advocating for initiatives such as the bridge near-miss reporting campaign to enhance safety awareness and maintenance. The report states: “With such concerns in mind, the ICE has been engaged in a joint initiative encouraging bridge designers, builders and maintainers worldwide to take more responsibility for preventing further calamitous failures. “In May 2024, it joined forces with the UK Bridges Board and the Bridge Owners Forum to encourage civil engineers and other professionals to report close calls and so-called precursor events to Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety UK (CROSS-UK). “Improving people’s knowledge, recognition and reporting of precursor events is known to be vital in preventing these from leading to more serious incidents. “Examples of precursor events include the unexpected failure of a component; structural cracks that appear or reopen after repairs; and other signs of distress that can’t be explained. This approach – endorsed by the Infrastructure Client Group – reflects best practice originally established in the aviation industry.” A further measure of ensuring the safety of critical infrastructure the report notes is the recognition that advanced digital tools can enable assets to be maintained and renewed in “more productive, cost-effective and sustainable ways.” The Forth Road Bridge is used as case study in the report, where this “well-worn” 60-year-old structure is being “nursed” using digital tools such as structural health monitoring. This solution is known as an acoustic monitoring system, which uses tiny microphones that are sensitive enough to detect the sounds made by breakages in the suspension cables’ 5mm-diameter wires. Beyond the current state of assets, the convergence of several factors, namely climate change, lack of maintenance, supply chain issues and a skills gap, is further impeding the infrastructure industry by creating a “perfect storm” for the UK. Further issues the report highlights include; Energy security: With energy security becoming a pressing concern amid the climate crisis, the report calls for diversification of energy sources. It suggests that tidal energy offers significant potential and recommends that civil engineering professionals explore this resource. The UK aims to cut emissions from 1990 levels by 81% by 2035, making it essential to expand renewable energy options. Water supply challenges: The water sector is facing mounting pressures from climate change, ageing infrastructure, and the demand for decarbonisation. The report predicts that the UK’s daily water demand may surpass supply by more than a third within 25 years. While initiatives to reduce leakage and build new reservoirs are already in motion, increasing the recycling of treated wastewater is also presented as a vital part of the solution. ICE president Jim Hall said: “Now is the time to establish a clear vision of how infrastructure can contribute to a better future for the UK. We need real prioritisation and long-term strategic thinking, and we need to apply creative solutions to the challenges we face. “All this needs to be supported by committed investment. "This is not a report full of wild, uncosted, undeliverable ideas. It is the reasoned opinion of practitioners and researchers at the cutting edge of infrastructure." Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here.

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Jan 30, 2025

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