Across the UK, local authorities are facing what can only be described as a perfect storm. Budgets are tightening, public expectations are rising, and a national spotlight on potholes and road conditions is stretching resources like never before. At the same time, everyone wants smoother, safer journeys - without the costs going up.
But these challenges are also opening the door for local authority teams to think differently. Now is the time to reimagine how highways and infrastructure services are delivered, and how digital asset management platforms can help you do more with less.
On 8th July, we brought together experts from the Causeway for Highways team to explore how Causeway Alloy and Causeway Horizons are enabling authorities to build smarter maintenance plans, unlock new funding, and deliver better outcomes for communities. If you missed the live session, here are the key takeaways - and why it matters now.
Key takeaways from the webinar
- One connected solution: Causeway Alloy manages day-to-day tasks - inspections, repairs, and asset updates - while Causeway Horizons brings together data from surveys, defects, public feedback and more to analyse trends, optimise maintenance, and plan investment. The integration creates a single source of truth, replacing spreadsheets and silos with a unified, end-to-end workflow.
- Flexible works programme development: Councils can use Horizons to combine survey data and local priorities, model different strategies, and generate works programmes that fit both operational and financial goals. Selected schemes are imported into Causeway Alloy for real-time delivery and monitoring.
- Smarter decisions, less manual work: Live data from Causeway Alloy flows into Causeway Horizons, supporting scenario analysis, business case development, budget justification, and reporting - all with up-to-date evidence, not guesswork.
- Integrated safety and risk management: SCRIM analysis, site investigations, and risk data are all linked - so you can identify high-risk locations, manage follow-up, and close the loop quickly using the mobile app.
How the connected data loop works
At the heart of the Causeway approach is a continuous, two-way flow of data between operational activity and strategic planning. Causeway Alloy and Causeway Horizons work together to make sure every decision, from daily jobs to long-term investment plans, is based on the latest, most accurate information.
Here’s what a connected asset management data loop looks like in action:
In practice: council success stories
The value of an integrated approach is already clear for several authorities:
- City of York uses Causeway Horizons to bring together multiple survey datasets - including condition data from both classified and unclassified roads - building tailored treatment strategies and long-term works programmes that fit their priorities and budgets.
- Dumfries & Galloway uses budget strategies within Horizons to split spending across different treatment types and years. Prioritised schemes are managed in Causeway Alloy, keeping everyone aligned, with completed works flowing back into Horizons for future planning.
- Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has used scenario analysis in Horizons to test the cost needed to maintain network condition and reduce backlog. The insights revealed their budget shortfall and, with clear data and visuals, they built a successful business case to double their highway maintenance budget - unlocking new funding and confidence for the future.
Across these councils, the theme is clear: a connected, data-driven approach means time saved, evidence-based decisions, and stronger outcomes for teams and communities.
Smarter reporting, funding scenarios and future planning
With Power BI dashboards fully integrated into Causeway Horizons and Causeway Alloy, councils can pull together everything from completed works, asset condition, and performance data, to support DfT and PAS2161 reporting, asset valuation, and internal management - without manual effort. The same easy reporting is available for authorities in Scotland and Wales, meeting their specific requirements too.
Teams can also quickly model a range of investment scenarios, test the cost to maintain current condition or reduce backlog, and build business cases for new funding. Councils like Merthyr Tydfil are using these insights to secure bigger budgets and protect the long-term quality of their networks.
What’s next? A roadmap for smarter highways management
Looking ahead, the Causeway team shared what’s coming soon:
- A refreshed, user-friendly interface for Causeway Horizons, built for intuitive working and Seamless connection with Causeway Alloy
- More automation to reduce manual effort and support the entire asset lifecycle, in one place
- Ongoing updates to support new reporting standards and industry needs
Catch up on demand
If you missed the live webinar, you can watch the full session on demand to see these tools in action and hear practical advice from our consultants.
Want to discuss your highways asset management plans? Please get in touch.
