Potholes
We are responsible for the maintenance of 386 miles of adopted roads within North East Lincolnshire. We have a system of safety inspections and repairs for all of our adopted roads.
Report a pothole
To let us know about a pothole that is causing an issue complete our Roads, footpaths and cycleways form.
Pothole causes
Potholes happen as road surfaces become older and therefore less flexible. Cracks in the surface gets worse with water, heavy traffic, and extreme hot and cold weather.
More potholes appear during and after the winter season due to the freeze and thaw conditions. Water in cracks of the road surface freezes when temperatures drop and thaws as it warms up causing the surface to expand and contract.
Pothole definition
Our definition of a pothole is as a sharp edged defect in the road surface 40mm or deeper and extending in any one direction more than 300mm.
If a gap in the road surface is less than 40mm deep it is not considered to be a pothole.
A defect in the surface which is 40mm or more but does not extend more than 300mm may still be considered as a defect, and prioritised for repair, but is not classed as a pothole.
Road inspections
To make sure our roads remain in a safe condition, we carry out regular safety inspections. How often we do this depends on the road type and the traffic using it. The inspections record all defects that need attention, which are then repaired as explained in our Highway Inspection and Maintenance Policy (PDF, 697KB) .
If potholes appear between inspections we appreciate reports from the public which help us find the issues. You can report a pothole on the Roads, footpaths and cycleways form.
Temporary and permanent repairs
When possible we try to make a permanent repair straight away, but sometimes a temporary fix is needed. This depends on the circumstances and the risk to public safety. Temporary repairs are a short term measure, with a permanent repair scheduled soon after.
Temporary repairs will also be considered where the road will be having larger repairs or resurfacing works within the next 12 months.
A typical permanent repair would see the area of road around the pothole cut out to give a clean vertical edge. Any loose material is removed from the area being repaired and is then painted with liquid bituminous binder. The area is filled with a hot bitumen bound material which is raked and compacted to the level of the surrounding road.
Pothole priorities
We have limited resources so we have to prioritise repairs to make sure they are done in the most effective way. The safety of our road users is always considered first.
When inspecting potholes any repair to be taken will be determined by a dynamic risk assessment undertaken during the site inspection. This risk assessment will determine how much of a priority that repair is based on the level of hazard it may cause.
A pothole in the road that is considered to require urgent attention that should be corrected or made safe at the time of the inspection, if reasonably practicable, is classed as a Category 1 defect. Category 1 defects that represent an immediate or imminent hazard will be made safe or repaired within 24 hours.
A pothole in the road that does not represent an immediate or imminent hazard or risk of short-term structural deterioration may have safety implications and is classed as a Category 2 defect. Category 2 defects that do not represent an immediate or imminent hazard will be repaired between 14 – 63 working days depending on the level of risk identified.