2021 French National Road Observatory report published

68 départements and 11 metropolitan areas, responsible for a combined 280,000 km of roads, contributed to the survey - which also included the State's data on the non-concessionary road network.

The historical data collected by the ONR highlights an important trend, the rise since 2016 in public spending on road infrastructure, showing the effort made by project owners in setting up asset management.

The increase in investment is all the more striking as the data correspond to budgets for 2020, the year of the health crisis. Despite this constraint, managers have maintained their level of investmen

Assets analysed
The State-owned road network
The French State is responsible for 11,718 km of “national” roads, upon which 80 to 90% of goods are transported – in heavy goods vehicles.

Figure: Evolution of investment expenditure excluding major works per km for the national road network

Figure: Condition of the toll-free national road network according to IQRN 3D (Quality Index of National roads 3D) 2018, 2019 and 2020 data

Roads managed by “départements” The 95 “départements”
(territorial divisions of the country with a local authority-style responsibility for managing some roads) in mainland France manage approximately 400,000 km of "secondary” roads up to the edge of conurbations. In cities, the roads are usually managed by the municipalities, unless they are national.

Figure: Evolution of investment expenditure, excluding major works, per km for the departmental road network (2013-2020)

Figure: Trend analysis of the condition of the overall network (Sample: 25 départements representing 103,112 km

This trend analysis shows a slight deterioration in road condition – increases in the percentages of roads in ‘poor condition’ and in ‘need of maintenance’, and a reduction in the percentage of roads in ‘good condition’.

To view the 2021 ONR report, click here.