Minister says road network is in managed decline

The road network across Jersey is in "managed decline" due to a lack of money being spent to keep it in good condition, the infrastructure minister has said.

Constable Andy Jehan said: "Over the long-term it has to be recognised that currently we do not spend enough money to maintain the network in good condition."

The minister said roads received significant maintenance work only about once every 30 years under current funding levels.

He said officers believed roads should instead be repaired about every 20 years to clear the maintenance backlog.

The minister's comments came in a written answer to a question about whether the quality of road surfaces was acceptable.

The minister said road conditions varied across the network but the main roads continued to be kept safe and serviceable.

He said the department used surveys carried out every three years to decide which roads should be prioritised for repair.

The department spent £6.1m on carriageway preservation and replacement in 2025, as well as about £900,000 on patching and safety repairs, he said.

Jehan said roads in the poorest condition were resurfaced or rebuilt, while micro asphalt was used to extend the life of roads that remained structurally sound.

The minister acknowledged micro asphalt was "not universally popular with the public" because it did not provide the same finish as full resurfacing.

He said it remained an important tool because it reduced disruption, used less material, produced less waste and could extend the life of roads by about eight to 12 years.

He said the department would continue to prioritise repairs using road condition data while carrying out reactive safety work and coordinating projects with utilities and developers.

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