How we manage winter impact on the roads
Every year we see potholes and damage to our roads and pavements as winter arrives. This is not something that is unique to Nottinghamshire and is experienced throughout the UK and beyond.
During this period the number of highway defects reported by residents and repairs identified by highway inspectors increases, although these may vary considerably from year to year depending on the severity of the weather conditions we experience.
All types of severe weather have a negative impact on the condition of our roads and pavements, causing and accelerating damage to road surfaces. This is even more common during the winter months when a combination of dampness and very cold temperatures can cause water that has to seeped into road surfaces to freeze and expand, causing damage.
While a winter may not appear particularly harsh, it is important to remember that the frequency of temperatures dropping below freezing may have a greater impact than prolonged freezing spells.
The freeze/thaw effect of gritting freezing conditions can take their toll on roads. Potholes can be caused by water seeping into pavement and asphalt cracks.
This water expands inside of the pavement/asphalt when frozen, creating a weak area. As vehicles drive over this weakened area and further freeze/thaw cycles extend the damage, a pothole begins to form.
Our approach to winter roads damage
To minimise the impacts of severe winter weather on our network, we deliver a combination of preventative, restorative and reactive works.
| Restorative works | Preventative works | Reactive works |
|---|---|---|
| Large-scale treatments to reconstruct a road | Treatments to maintain and prolong the life of a road | Repairs to make safe damaged areas of road |
| Full resurfacing | Large-scale mechanised patching | Small-scale patch repairs |
| Structural Patching | Surface Dressing | Safety repairs |
| Micro-asphalt | ||
| Spray Injection Patching |
Highways improvements
In addition to the carriageway schemes already identified in the county council’s capital programme, there are 14 teams undertaking “right first time” patching repairs where roads that are considered more at risk to damage are preventatively treated. We also deploy additional resources to deliver a programme of permanent in-lay patching repairs in place of Category 1 safety repairs or multiple defect repairs.
Read more on safety repairs at our potholes information page
This programme will carry on through until April 2025. It will improve the road network ahead of winter and provide greater responsiveness over the winter period. These works will be undertaken by two additional teams (making 16 teams in total) and ensure a further 20,000m² to 25,000m² of permanent in-lay repairs are completed.
A further seven large-scale structural patching schemes will also take place across Nottinghamshire targeting areas of significant deterioration. These schemes will deliver approximately 15,000 m² of carriageway repairs.
Improvements relating to Highway Inspections
Annual highway inspections have been programmed to take place between April and November, this is to allow our Highway Inspectors to investigate and manage highway defects during the winter. Regular inspections will still take place on the busier roads as many of these are inspected on a monthly or quarterly basis
We are also prioritising repairs of high-use roads in the county, which residents and road users travel along on a daily basis.
To see road surface improvements planned in your area please visit: www.NottsHighways.co.uk
