The state of road infrastructure in Spain has reached one of its most critical levels in recent decades. This is according to the latest report from the Spanish Road Association (AEC), which warns of a widespread deterioration of the national road network as a consequence of the lack of sustained investment in conservation.

According to the study, 33.966 kilometers of roads show very serious deteriorationThis includes both structural defects—potholes, deformations, or "crocodile skin" cracking—and surface defects, such as longitudinal and transverse cracks and pavement erosion. This figure represents 32% of the total Spanish road network and it almost triples the data recorded in 2022, when around 13.000 kilometers were recorded in this situation.

These sections are in addition to others 20.407 kilometers with damage classified as severewhich require corrective action within a maximum period of four years. Overall, 54.373 kilometers of the 101.700 km that make up the national road networkThat is, more than 52% need urgent interventions in the short or medium term.

A conservation deficit exceeding 13.400 billion euros

The AEC places the accumulated conservation deficit of 13.491 million euros, an unprecedented figure that takes into account the increase in the costs of raw materials, energy and labor recorded in recent years.

The report details that the following would be necessary:

• 4.721 millones de euros for state-owned roads (approximately 26.000 km).
• 8.770 millones de euros for the regional and provincial networks (approximately 75.300 km).

Furthermore, the deterioration has accelerated at an average rate of 8% annually over the last three yearsThis exacerbates the economic and operational impact on the entire transport system.

Direct impact on road safety, logistics and costs

The poor condition of roads has direct consequences that go far beyond driving comfort. According to the AEC, the deterioration of the road surface significantly affects... road safety, freight transport efficiency and operating costsespecially in heavy transport:

• Increase of up to a 12% in fuel consumption due to increased friction.
• More than €270 million cost overrun in the summer, according to estimates from Directorate General of Traffic (DGT).
• Reduction of average traffic speed by 10%affecting logistics productivity.
• Increase of up to a 25% reduction in travel times for trucks and buses.
• Final impact on product prices, with increases of up to 10% due to inefficiencies in the supply chain.

Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha and Galicia, at the forefront of the decline

The territorial analysis of the report shows significant differences between autonomous communities. Aragon tops the negative ranking, with a 68% of its road network in serious or very serious conditionfollowed by Castile-La Mancha and Galicia, both with a 59%.

Conversely, communities such as Valencia, Catalonia, Madrid, Extremadura and the Basque Country show levels of deterioration lower than the national average, which the AEC attributes to greater investment and political priority in road conservation.

Digital inspection and artificial intelligence to audit road conditions

The report introduces a significant new feature: for the first time, the audit was conducted using digital inspection technology supported by artificial intelligenceallowing analysis 4.000 km of roads, a sample ten times larger than that of previous studies based on visual inspection.

The system employs high-resolution sensors and cameras capable of operating at speeds of up to 90 km/h, detecting micro-damage with great precision. The methodology, developed entirely in Europe and aligned with the ethical criteria of the European CommissionIt improves the reliability of the diagnosis and reduces evaluation times.

The AEC's proposal: a stable and sustainable road conservation fund

Given the magnitude of the problem, the AEC proposes the creation of a specific and permanent road conservation fundwith multi-channel financing to ensure its long-term sustainability. Among the proposed measures are:

• Direct allocations from the General State Budgets and the budgets of the autonomous communities.
• Use of European funds linked to the ecological transition and digitalization.
• Implementation of usage-based pricing systems, such as smart tolls or eco-taxes.
• Public-private partnership models for conservation and management.
• Review of taxation between modes of transport: eliminating exemptions for rail, maritime and air transport in the special tax on hydrocarbons could generate more than 4.000 billion euros annually, according to Corell Foundation.