Jersey's Roads Are Being Allowed to Deteriorate, Minister Admits

Infrastructure Minister Jonathan Renouf says years of underinvestment have left the island's road network in 'managed decline', with funding levels falling well short of what is needed to keep roads in good condition.

Jersey's road network is gradually deteriorating because insufficient funding has been invested in long-term maintenance, according to the island's Infrastructure Minister, who has acknowledged that the current approach is effectively one of "managed decline".

Responding to questions about the condition of the island's highways, Jonathan Renouf said the existing level of investment is not enough to preserve the network to the standard expected over the long term.

He warned that, under current funding arrangements, roads typically receive major maintenance treatment only once every 30 years, despite highway engineers advising that intervention should ideally take place every 20 years to prevent deterioration and reduce the growing maintenance backlog.

Funding Gap Drives Longer Repair Cycles

While Mr Renouf stressed that Jersey's principal routes remain safe and operational, he accepted that extending maintenance cycles inevitably allows more roads to deteriorate before they receive significant investment.

The Infrastructure Department currently uses comprehensive condition surveys, undertaken every three years, to identify and prioritise those sections of the network most in need of attention.

In 2025, the Government of Jersey invested approximately £6.1 million in carriageway preservation and resurfacing programmes, alongside a further £900,000 on reactive patching and safety repairs.

Micro Asphalt Continues to Divide Opinion

The minister also defended the continued use of micro asphalt, despite recognising that it remains unpopular with many motorists who often view it as an inferior alternative to full resurfacing.

He explained that while roads in the poorest structural condition are fully resurfaced or reconstructed, micro asphalt is applied where the underlying carriageway remains sound, helping to extend its operational life before more extensive intervention becomes necessary.

According to the department, the treatment can prolong the lifespan of a road by between eight and 12 years, while also offering wider environmental and operational benefits.

Compared with traditional resurfacing, micro asphalt:

• Requires significantly less material.

• Produces lower levels of construction waste.

• Can be installed more quickly.

• Minimises disruption for motorists and local communities.

Data-Led Approach to Maintenance

Looking ahead, Mr Renouf said the department would continue to prioritise investment using detailed condition data, ensuring that the most deteriorated roads receive attention first while reactive safety repairs continue across the wider network.

He added that highway maintenance programmes would also remain closely coordinated with utility companies and developers wherever possible, helping to reduce repeated disruption and improve the efficiency of future roadworks.

The minister's comments highlight a challenge faced by many highway authorities across the British Isles: balancing constrained budgets with the growing cost of maintaining ageing transport infrastructure. As maintenance cycles lengthen and funding pressures continue, the risk is that preventive investment gives way to more expensive reconstruction work further down the line.