Highway maintenance report 2025 to 2026

Salford’s highway network is one of the city’s most valuable public assets, with a gross replacement cost estimated at over £1.1 billion. It underpins everything from economic growth and regeneration to community wellbeing and daily mobility. Whether travelling by foot, bike, car, or public transport, every journey in Salford depends on a safe, reliable, and well maintained highway infrastructure.

This Highways Maintenance Report reflects our commitment to managing this vital asset responsibly and sustainably. It builds on the principles set out in our Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan, which guides how we prioritise investment, apply lifecycle planning, and deliver value for money in the face of increasing financial and environmental pressures.

Despite ongoing challenges, Salford City Council continues to invest in its network, ensuring that our roads, footways, bridges, lighting, and drainage systems are maintained to a high standard. This report outlines the progress we’ve made, the challenges we face, and the strategic approach we are taking to ensure our highways support a thriving, connected, and inclusive city.

Salford has around 800 kilometres of roads that help people travel around the city. These roads are grouped into four types:

• 'A' roads: 
  These are the main roads used for getting in and out of the city.
• 'B' roads: 
  These connect different areas of Salford and link to the 'A' roads.
• 'C' roads: 
  These smaller roads connect local streets to the 'A' and 'B' roads.
• 'U' roads:
  These are local roads that don’t fall into the other categories.

Most roads have footways on both sides, and some also have cycle lanes which are either shared with other traffic or separated for cyclists only.

Below is a summary of how much of each type of road, footway, and cycleway there is in Salford.

Highway assets and features

Salford’s highways include many important features that help keep everyone safe and moving smoothly. These are called highway assets, and they play a vital role in how our transport system works.

Below is a list of the different parts of the highway network:

Street furniture

• Road signs: 
  These give drivers and pedestrians important information like speed limits, directions, and warnings.
• Road markings: 
  Painted lines and symbols on the road that help guide traffic and show where to park or stop.
• Barriers and guardrails: 
  Safety features that stop vehicles from going off the road or into dangerous areas.

Drainage

• Gullies and drains: 
  These help carry away rainwater to stop roads from flooding.
• Culverts: 
  These are tunnels or pipes that let water flow under roads.

Structures

• Bridges: 
  Built to carry roads over rivers, railways, or other roads.
• Retaining walls: 
  Structures that support roads built on slopes or embankments.

Other important features

• Streetlights: 
  Help keep roads safe and visible at night.
• Trees and grass verges: 
  Add greenery, reduce noise, and support the environment.
• Bollards: 
  Short posts that stop vehicles from entering certain areas, like pedestrian zones.
• Traffic signals: 
  Lights and crossings that help control traffic and keep people safe.

The table below outlines Salford’s highway maintenance budgets over the past five years. It also provides estimated figures showing how spending was divided between preventative maintenance, such as resurfacing, and reactive maintenance, including pothole repairs. To work out the estimated percentage split between preventative and reactive maintenance, the figures from the DFT and Capital spend columns have been combined to produce the total spend figure for preventative activities. 

Additional information on spending

For additional context regarding the spending figures, it's important to note that the maintenance work undertaken is not limited to surface repairs alone. The funding also supports the upkeep of various other critical highway assets that form part of the broader network. This includes the maintenance of drainage systems to manage water flow and prevent flooding, the preservation and inspection of structures such as bridges and retaining walls, the upkeep and replacement of traffic signs to ensure road safety, and essential winter maintenance activities like gritting and snow clearance.

Highway maintenance responsibility

Salford City Council is responsible for maintaining the public highway network in accordance with the Highways Act 1980. This includes all adopted roads, footpaths, and verges, ensuring they remain safe and accessible for all users. The council’s duties cover routine safety inspections, repairs to improve road conditions, and the maintenance of associated infrastructure such as streetlights, signage, drainage gullies, and more.

In addition to the adopted highway network, some roads in Salford are maintained by housing associations, while others remain unadopted and are therefore not the responsibility of the Local Authority. To maintain the adopted highways effectively, the council relies on funding from various sources. This funding supports both day-to-day maintenance and larger scale improvement projects.

Types of funding for road maintenance

• Capital funding from the government:
  The Department for Transport (DfT) gives money to local councils like Salford to help improve and maintain roads. Councils decide how to use this money based on what their area needs most.
• Highway capital funding:
  This is used for larger projects, like building new roads, fixing bridges, or resurfacing and overlaying roads and footways. 
• Highway revenue funding:
  This covers everyday maintenance, such as fixing potholes and general upkeep to keep roads safe and usable

Planned road and footpath improvements for 2025 to 2026

As part of our preventative maintenance programme, Salford City Council plans to resurface around 15 to 20 kilometres of road and improve approximately eight to ten kilometres of footways. This work is part of our ongoing effort to keep Salford’s highways safe, smooth, and accessible. For this year, we estimate that around 80% of our maintenance work will be preventative, focusing on early improvements to extend the life of roads and footways. The remaining 30% will be reactive, dealing with urgent issues like potholes and other emergency repairs. 

Estimated number of potholes filled 

Over the past five or six years, there has been less capital funding available for road improvements such as resurfacing and overlaying. This means we haven’t been able to carry out as much planned maintenance to keep the roads in the best condition. As a result, road surfaces have begun to deteriorate, leading to more potholes and a greater need for short term, reactive repairs. The numbers in the table below are estimated based on orders that have been raised following routine highway inspections.

Balancing preventative and reactive road maintenance

At Salford City Council, we’re committed to keeping our roads safe and in good condition. To do this, we use a mixture of preventative maintenance, like resurfacing and surface treatments, and reactive repairs, like fixing potholes.

We carefully plan where and when to carry out work based on known road conditions, safety needs, and available funding. By fixing roads early, we can prevent bigger problems later which helps to save money and reduces disruption.

While reactive repairs are essential for dealing with urgent issues and keeping the network safe, we know that preventative maintenance offers better long term value. It helps roads last longer, reduces the need for emergency repairs, and keeps traffic moving more smoothly.

To support our approach to increased preventative working, we’re planning ahead with long term programmes, using data to help predict where problems might develop, and choosing low disruption treatments such as surface dressings that extend road life with minimal inconvenience. We also monitor how well our strategies are working and ensure that our funding bids support long term improvements to the road network.

The following tables show condition data that has been collected over the last five years. The data is collected using different surveying methods to accurately assess the condition of each category of road.

Percentage of A roads in each condition category

Percentage of B and C roads in each condition category

Percentage of unclassified roads requiring maintenance

How we check the condition of our highways

To keep Salford’s roads safe and useable, it’s important to regularly check their condition. The council uses different methods to assess the condition of roads and footways, depending on the type of road.

Here’s how it works:

• SCANNER surveys: 
  We use a special laser-based system called SCANNER to check the surface of major roads (like A, B, and C roads). This technology measures things like bumps, cracks, and wear on the road surface. These roads are surveyed every two years, this follows national guidelines and ensures we have up-to-date information on our busiest roads.
• Coarse visual inspections: 
  For smaller, unclassified roads, trained inspectors carry out Coarse Visual Inspections (CVI). They look for visible signs of damage, such as potholes or worn-out surfaces. These roads make up a much larger part of the network. To manage costs and resources, we survey one-third of these roads each year, covering the full network every three years.
• footway network surveys: 
  We also check footways using footway Network Surveys (FNS). These help us understand the condition of paths used by pedestrians. footway surveys are more detailed and expensive. For this reason, we survey the footway network over a five-year cycle, ensuring each area is checked regularly while keeping costs manageable.
• SCRIM:
  The SCRIM survey method is a way to checks how slippery the road surface is, especially when it's wet. A special vehicle called a SCRIM (Sideway Force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine) drives along the road and uses sensors to measure how much grip the surface provides to tyres.

These assessments help the council decide where to focus repairs and improvements, making sure money is spent where it’s needed most.

How we rate the condition of the highways

To assess the condition of our roads, we carry out inspections and assign each road a condition rating. This helps us prioritise which roads need maintenance and when. At present, we use a three-tier system: roads in green are in good condition and don’t require any work; those rated amber may need maintenance in the near future; and red roads are those that should be considered for repair as a priority.

However, this system is set to change. From 2026 to 2027, a new national standard known as BSI PAS 2161 will be introduced. This updated approach will provide a more detailed assessment by expanding the rating system from three categories to five. It will be adopted by all local councils across England and will require them to work with approved survey providers who meet the new criteria.

The introduction of this standard will give both local authorities and the government a clearer, more consistent understanding of road conditions nationwide. This, in turn, will support better planning and more effective investment in road maintenance and improvements.

Salford’s approach to maintaining the highways

Salford City Council is responsible for looking after a large and valuable network of roads, footways, bridges, streetlights, and other highway features. To manage this network effectively, the council follows a long-term strategy called the highway Asset Management Plan.

The goal of this plan is to make the best use of limited funding by focusing on preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance aims to fix small problems early before they become bigger and more expensive. This approach helps extend the life of roads and reduces the need for major repairs.

In the past, the council used a 'worst-first' method, fixing the most damaged roads first. While this was easy to understand, it led to a growing backlog of repairs. Now, Salford uses a more balanced method that combines preventative work with targeted repairs on the worst roads. This is supported by regular inspections, condition surveys, and data analysis.

The council also uses modern tools and systems to track the condition of roads and plan future work. This helps ensure that decisions are based on evidence, not guesswork, and that money is spent where it will have the biggest impact.

By managing the network in this way, Salford aims to keep roads safe, reliable, and in good condition for everyone who uses them.

Preventative and reactive split

Salford City Council is shifting towards a more preventative approach to maintenance, aiming for a long term split of approximately 80% preventative work and 20% reactive works. This extends asset life, reduces costs, and improves network resilience.

How many kilometres of carriageway we plan to resurface

Salford City Council plans to resurface approximately 15 kilometres of carriageway over the next financial year, focusing on priority routes identified through condition surveys and strategic importance. This supports both asset longevity and our goals for network resilience and decarbonisation.

How many footways we plan to improve

We plan to improve approximately 27 footways over the next financial year, prioritising areas with high pedestrian use, accessibility needs, and poor condition scores identified through condition surveys, routine inspections and local feedback.

Which structures we plan to repair

A number of improvement works are planned across the area to address ongoing safety and maintenance concerns. Drainage in several subways will be improved to prevent flooding, which has caused access issues in the past. At Monton Canal Bridge, a new safety barrier will be installed to protect the structure from vehicle damage. The parapets at Pendleton Roundabout will be replaced in phases following inspections that highlighted the need for upgrades. Additionally, essential repairs will be carried out on the bearing plinths at Moorside and Wardley railway bridges, along with repainting of the steel beams to help reduce future maintenance.

How many potholes we estimate repairing

Based on current trends, condition assessments, and inspection data, Salford City Council expects to fill approximately 18,000 potholes across our road network during the 2025–2026 financial year.

Salford City Council is committed to keeping traffic moving smoothly and reducing the disruption caused by roadworks. To achieve this, we carry out regular inspections of active sites to ensure that traffic signs and barriers are clearly visible, safe, and effective in helping both drivers and pedestrians navigate the area.

Once roadworks are completed, we thoroughly check the quality of the repairs to make sure they meet the required standards. This helps prevent future issues and reduces the likelihood of needing to return for further work.

Our Street Works team plays a vital role in planning and coordinating all roadworks across the city. By carefully scheduling projects and assessing the time and traffic management needed, we aim to avoid overlapping works and keep congestion to a minimum.

We also make use of modern technology, including advanced software systems, to manage roadworks more efficiently. Our staff receive ongoing training to stay up to date with the latest regulations and best practices in the field.

Collaboration is key to our approach. We hold regular meetings with utility companies and Transport for Greater Manchester to address challenges and improve planning across the board.

To enhance transparency and keep the public informed, we are introducing a new online system that will display all temporary road closures and diversion routes. This will help road users and planners alike to avoid conflicts and stay updated.

We are part of the Greater Manchester Road Activity Permit Scheme (GMRAPS). This provides consistency and a joined-up approach to co-ordination in the Greater Manchester region. Anyone wishing to undertake roadworks must apply for a permit, which allows us to assess their plans, direct timings and even add conditions to minimise the disruption to the travelling public. Furthermore, to stop our resurfaced roads from being dug up we also notify utility companies before we start to see if they have planned works, which can be undertaken before ours. We are also looking to be a Lane Rental authority where we can charge a daily rate for works on our busiest roads during the busiest times. This should incentivise organisations that undertake roadworks by making them think about how they.

In Salford, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our highway maintenance operations. This includes using more sustainable materials, improving the energy efficiency of our equipment, and supporting the shift to low and zero-emission vehicles. We are also making our streets more climate resilient by incorporating features like sustainable drainage systems and planting more street trees, which help manage surface water and reduce the risk of flooding. 

As the climate changes, we are assessing the risks to our road network, and planning improvements to make our infrastructure more robust and adaptable for the future. We are also reviewing how our maintenance framework providers plan to contribute to carbon efficiencies, ensuring their working practices align with our goals. All of this work is being carried out in line with the shared standards and ambitions set out by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, as part of our collective commitment to a greener, more resilient city region.