Asbestos may have been banned in the UK in 1999, but its legacy remains embedded across much of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), the 7,500-kilometre backbone that keeps the nation moving. Bridges, tunnels, drainage systems, and operational facilities built before the ban still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that require careful monitoring and management.
The Highways Agency (now National Highways) introduced the General Asbestos Management Plan (GAMP) to identify, monitor, and control these risks across thousands of ageing assets. Today, modern digital platforms such as AI-powered road network monitoring from RoadVision AI are helping infrastructure managers transform traditional inspection workflows into smarter and more proactive asset management systems. As the saying goes, “the past has a way of catching up with you,” and in the case of ageing infrastructure, understanding where asbestos exists is the first step toward managing it safely.
Although modern road construction avoids asbestos entirely, many assets across the Strategic Road Network are between 20 and 40 years old. Routine activities such as structural maintenance, road widening, electrical upgrades, and drainage works can unintentionally disturb ACMs if their presence is not clearly recorded.
The real danger lies not in asbestos that remains sealed and undisturbed, but in asbestos that workers do not know exists.
Without accurate asset records and regular inspection cycles:
Workers may face unnecessary exposure risks
Contractors may unknowingly breach the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2006
Infrastructure projects may face delays, penalties, or environmental concerns
Proactive road infrastructure monitoring systems help asset managers track structural conditions and identify locations where hidden risks may exist.
In infrastructure management, “forewarned is forearmed.”
Many highway assets built before 2000 still contain asbestos in structural or service components.
Older bridges may contain ACMs in:
Joint filler boards and mastics
Deck waterproofing membranes
Pipe insulation beneath bridge decks
Steel structure gaskets and seals
Bitumen-coated culverts
Routine inspection using AI-based road asset inventory tools helps engineers maintain accurate records of these infrastructure components.
Legacy roadside infrastructure may include asbestos components such as:
Drainage pipes and service conduits
Electrical communication ducts
Street lighting fuse assemblies
Roadside cabinets and utility shelters
Maintaining digital records of these elements improves transport asset inventory management.
Older tunnel systems may contain asbestos in:
Internal cladding panels
Fireproof lagging around cables
Ventilation system insulation
Pump rooms and equipment chambers
These enclosed environments require careful monitoring through AI-enabled infrastructure inspection systems.
Support facilities across the SRN frequently contain ACMs within:
Roofing sheets and insulation boards
Rainwater drainage pipes
Internal wall insulation
Service ducts and soffits
Many of these structures fall outside regular highway inspection cycles, making digital asset tracking increasingly important.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2006, particularly Regulation 4, highway authorities and contractors must actively manage asbestos risks across infrastructure assets.
Key responsibilities include:
Identifying asbestos in all relevant structures
Maintaining an asbestos register for each asset
Conducting regular surveys and monitoring
Ensuring safe removal or remediation when necessary
To implement these requirements across the Strategic Road Network, National Highways introduced structured management processes such as:
Asbestos Action Plans (AAPs) every 5 kilometres
Annual Area Asbestos Management Plans (AAMPs)
Scheme Asbestos Management Plans (SAMPs) for infrastructure projects
Annual inspections of at least 5% of network assets
Digital inspection platforms supporting AI-based road safety and monitoring tools help agencies maintain compliance while improving inspection coverage.
Modern infrastructure management increasingly relies on advanced analytics and digital inspection technologies.
Platforms such as AI-powered road condition monitoring systems help authorities transition from reactive maintenance to predictive asset management.
Continuous traffic monitoring, sensor integration, and visual inspections provide engineers with early warnings about potential infrastructure issues.
AI systems analyse historical inspection data, asset age, structural condition, and operational risks to prioritise locations requiring further investigation.
RoadVision AI aligns with national compliance frameworks including:
National Highways’ GAMP
Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR 2006)
UK road infrastructure asset management guidelines
This allows agencies to maintain stronger oversight across large and complex transport networks.
In simple terms, intelligent infrastructure systems help engineers “fix the roof while the sun is shining.”
Despite structured regulations and inspection plans, managing asbestos across the Strategic Road Network remains complex.
Thousands of legacy bridges, tunnels, and roadside assets require monitoring.
Older infrastructure often lacks detailed construction documentation.
Specialist asbestos surveys may require lane closures, traffic control, and trained personnel.
Hidden ACMs are sometimes discovered only during intrusive construction work.
Asset information may exist across multiple databases, creating potential visibility gaps.
Advanced AI-powered road infrastructure analytics platforms help consolidate this data and improve decision-making for infrastructure managers.
Although asbestos is a material from the past, its presence still affects the safety and maintenance of the UK’s Strategic Road Network. Bridges, tunnels, ducts, and service facilities built decades ago may still contain hidden ACMs that require careful monitoring and management.
Through structured regulation, proactive inspections, and modern digital technologies, the UK is working toward full asbestos visibility across its road infrastructure. However, managing thousands of ageing assets requires more than manual surveys alone.
Intelligent inspection platforms like RoadVision AI are helping infrastructure authorities modernise asset management by combining digital road monitoring, predictive analytics, and compliance-driven workflows.
As the proverb reminds us, “A stitch in time saves nine.” By identifying risks early and managing infrastructure intelligently, agencies can protect workers, reduce long-term costs, and ensure the UK’s road network remains safe and resilient for decades to come.
Asbestos is typically found in bridge structures, tunnels, drainage ducts, and lighting columns that were built before the 2000 asbestos ban.
The General Asbestos Management Plan (GAMP) outlines how the UK Highways Agency manages and tracks asbestos risks across the strategic road network.
Yes, assets built after 2000 are considered asbestos-free, following the national ban on all asbestos materials in late 1999.
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