THE introduction of road tolls should be considered in Scotland to help fund road repair backlogs, a report on infrastructure has said.
The report, by the Institution of Civil Engineers (Ice), suggests road user charges, either as a flat rate or pay-as-you-go, which would work best where there was congestion and an alternative public transport option.
The representative body for Britain's engineers is pointing to evidence that the cost of the backlog in road repairs has been put at £2 billion.
They said about a third of local roads are in an unacceptable condition in its latest review of the country's infrastructure.
Ice says it was costing nearly £250m per year to avoid further deterioration
The declining state of local roads risks was undermining improvements made by major investment in projects such as the Queensferry Crossing and Borders Railway, the report said.
The institution, which has 8,000 members in Scotland, said esaid: "We recommend a progressive system of road-user charging be considered where appropriate to help meet the financial demands of constructing and maintaining good-quality roads infrastructure.
"Direct charging, either as a flat fee or on a pay-as-you-go basis, should be explored."
The report praised progress in the development of waste and flooding infrastructure but raised "major concerns" about the energy sector.
More than half (55%) of Scotland's electricity generation capacity will be retired within eight years with the closure of Longannet coal-fired power station and Hunterston and Torness nuclear plants, it said.
The institution called for a "clear, long-term energy policy guided by expert advice" in Scotland and the UK.
"All energy sources, including nuclear, on-shore gas and renewables, should be discussed," it said.
"Debates should be informed by expert scientific and technical advice and robust evidence. Bold political leadership and evidence-based policy will build stability and investor confidence.
"No changes are consequence-free, nor is the decision to do nothing or to delay decisions."
The Scottish government has said the report provided a "helpful contribution".
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