Highways maintenance transparency report 2026-27

How we maintain local roads, pavements, and the wider highway network in Salford

A1 – What we are responsible for maintaining

Salford City Council is responsible for maintaining a large and diverse highway network that supports residents, businesses and visitors across the city.

• Carriageways – 742 km

• Footways – 1,109 km

• Public Rights of Way – 128 km

• Highway Structures – 180

• Street Lighting Assets – 33,100

• Highway Gullies – 45,000

In addition to these assets, the Council maintains signs, road markings, safety barriers, drainage systems and other highway infrastructure.

Maintaining a large and diverse highway network presents several challenges. Many of Salford's highway assets are ageing and are subject to continual deterioration from traffic loading, utility works, weather conditions and the natural ageing of materials. Increasing traffic volumes, more frequent severe weather events and ongoing funding pressures require the Council to carefully prioritise investment to ensure resources are directed to locations where they will deliver the greatest benefit. The Council uses a risk-based asset management approach to target maintenance activities, improve network resilience and maximise the long-term value of investment.

A2 – Road conditions in Salford

A2.1. A roads

A2.2. B and C roads

A2.3. U roads

Councils use road condition surveys to assess the state of their roads. The results are grouped into three categories:

• Green – the road is in good condition and no further investigation or treatment is required

• Amber – the road may need maintenance soon

• Red – the road is in poor condition and should be considered for maintenance

The published official statistics for road condition include more detail about the methodology, timing and coverage of this data

A2.4. - Additional information on carriageway condition

The condition of Salford's A, B and C road network has remained broadly consistent over the reporting period. However, the condition of the unclassified road network reflects historic funding constraints and the larger proportion of the local road network that requires ongoing maintenance. The Council continues to utilise condition survey data, highway inspections, lifecycle planning and asset management principles to target investment where it will deliver the greatest benefit. Increased emphasis on preventative maintenance and timely intervention seeks to slow the rate of deterioration and reduce the need for more costly structural repairs in future years.

A3 – What we are doing about potholes and other road defects

A3.1. – What is a pothole?

A pothole is a defect in the road surface where part of the carriageway or footway has broken away, creating a hole or depression. Potholes typically form as a result of traffic loading, water ingress, freeze-thaw action and the natural deterioration of highway materials over time.

Salford City Council uses a risk-based approach to the assessment of potholes and other highway defects in accordance with its Highway Inspection and Repair Code of Practice. Investigatory levels are generally 40mm deep for carriageway defects and 25mm deep for footway defects, pedestrian crossing points and designated segregated cycle lanes.

Defects meeting these investigatory levels are assessed having regard to factors such as highway hierarchy, traffic levels, location and the potential consequences of harm. Defects assessed as an immediate hazard are classified as Category 1 defects and are attended within 2 hours to make safe. Other actionable defects are classified as Category 2 defects and are programmed for repair within 28 days.

A3.2. – What we are doing to tackle potholes

Salford City Council uses a risk-based highway asset management approach to tackle potholes and improve the condition of the road network. Our approach combines regular highway safety inspections, public reporting, planned maintenance programmes and reactive repairs to ensure defects are identified and addressed appropriately.

During 2025/26, the Council completed approximately 15,000 carriageway defect repairs. This figure includes pothole repairs and other localised safety-related interventions.

We carry out a range of maintenance activities designed to prevent potholes from forming, including carriageway and footway resurfacing, reconstruction and other preventative maintenance interventions that extend asset life and reduce future deterioration. This planned work provides better long-term value than relying solely on reactive repairs.

Where potholes and other defects occur, they are assessed in accordance with the Council's Highway Inspection and Repair Code of Practice. The Council generally seeks to deliver permanent repairs wherever it is safe and practicable to do so. However, larger repairs may require traffic management, road space bookings or specialist materials, meaning that defects are sometimes made safe before a more substantial repair can be completed.

The Council also uses condition surveys, asset data and lifecycle planning to target investment where it will deliver the greatest benefit to network condition, safety and resilience.

A3.3. How members of public can report potholes and other highway defects

Members of the public can report potholes and other highway defects online through Salford City Council's website using the Council's dedicated reporting system:

Salford Report it

Reports can be submitted at any time and should include the location of the defect together with any relevant information, such as photographs, that may assist with its assessment.

Highway defects can also be reported by contacting the Council's Customer Contact Centre. Reports received from residents, businesses, elected members and other stakeholders are recorded within the Council's Confirm Connect asset management system and passed to the appropriate service for investigation.

Once a report is received, the defect is assessed in accordance with the Council's Highway Inspection and Repair Code of Practice. Residents who report defects online can track the progress of their enquiry and receive updates as it is investigated and progressed.

A3.4. What happens after a pothole is reported

When a pothole or highway defect is reported to Salford City Council, the report is reviewed by the Highway Maintenance team. If the location has not already been inspected or programmed for repair, an inspection will be arranged.

The defect is then assessed in accordance with the Council's Highway Inspection and Repair Code of Practice, which uses a risk-based approach to determine whether intervention is required. This assessment considers factors such as the severity and location of the defect, the type and volume of traffic using the highway, and the likelihood and consequences of harm occurring.

Where a defect meets the Council's intervention criteria, it will be prioritised for repair within the appropriate response time. Defects that do not meet the intervention criteria will continue to be monitored through routine inspections and future maintenance programmes.

Reports submitted through the Council's online reporting system are recorded and tracked, allowing updates to be provided throughout the process. Information from public reports also helps identify trends and emerging issues across the highway network, supporting future maintenance planning and investment decisions.

A4 – What we spend to maintain the highway network and where the funding is coming from

A4.1. – Spending on highways maintenance

A4.2 – Where our funding for highways maintenance comes from

A5 – Our maintenance plans for this year

A5.1 – Our plans for highways maintenance for 2026-27

During 2026-27, Salford City Council plans to deliver a highway maintenance programme focused on maintaining a safe, resilient and sustainable highway network.

• Approximately 20 km of carriageway resurfacing and reconstruction works.

• Approximately 7 km of planned preventative carriageway maintenance treatments.

• Approximately 10 km of footway reconstruction and renewal works.

• A planned carriageway patching programme covering approximately 300 roads and 15,000 m² of carriageway where deterioration is evident but full resurfacing or reconstruction is not yet required.

• Drainage maintenance and improvement works, including gully cleansing, drainage investigations and targeted repairs.

• Maintenance of highway structures, including bridges, retaining walls and related assets.

• Continued renewal of street lighting infrastructure and associated highway electrical assets.

• Reactive repairs to address potholes and other safety defects identified through inspections and reports from residents.

Works are prioritised using highway inspections, condition surveys, asset data and lifecycle planning principles to ensure available funding is targeted where it will deliver the greatest benefit in terms of safety, asset condition, resilience and value for money.

A5.2 - Full list of planned carriageway and footway works

View the Council's planned carriageway resurfacing, surface treatment and footway improvement programme for 2026-27.

In addition to the planned highway maintenance schemes, the Council intends to deliver a city-wide carriageway patching programme covering more than 300 locations.

Please note: The 2026-27 carriageway and footway maintenance programme is indicative and reflects the Council's current planned investment priorities. The programme may be amended during the year in response to changes in asset condition, emerging safety or resilience issues, funding availability, opportunities to coordinate with other works, or other unforeseen circumstances. Updated programme information will be published as appropriate.

A5.3 – How decisions are made on our maintenance plans

Maintenance priorities are determined using a risk-based asset management approach. Decisions are informed by highway safety inspections, condition surveys, asset inventory data, lifecycle planning, customer reports and engineering judgement.

The Council uses this information to understand the condition and performance of highway assets, identify areas of greatest need and assess the risks associated with asset deterioration. Available funding is then targeted towards locations and assets where investment will deliver the greatest benefit in terms of safety, serviceability, network resilience and long-term value for money.

In developing maintenance programmes, the Council seeks to balance preventative maintenance, structural renewals and reactive repairs. This approach helps to extend asset life, reduce the need for more costly interventions in the future and support the long-term sustainability of the highway network.

To deliver an efficient service, maintenance activities are coordinated wherever possible with utility works, drainage improvements and other highway projects to reduce disruption and maximise value from available funding. Programmes are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in asset condition, emerging risks, customer feedback and operational priorities.

This page was last updated on 10 September 2026