More for less through private finance highway maintenance

This paper shows how the private finance policy pursued by the UK government, applied to the delivery of highway maintenance services in Birmingham, provides a framework for the delivery of whole-life highways remediation, rehabilitation and maintenance needs at an affordable cost. Delivery of a best whole-life cost solution and the continual incentive to minimise expenditure results in a drive to optimise the use of physical and human resources, which in turn delivers environmental sustainability objectives. The £2·7 billion Birmingham highways maintenance and management service was also developed with local social and economic improvement in mind and this has shaped the interface with residents and engagement of the local supply chain in the delivery of the project.