Safety inspections and defect priorities
Busier roads, pavements and cycle routes are inspected more often than quieter routes.
Road inspections
|
Road type |
Inspection frequency |
|---|---|
|
Major roads carrying the highest levels of traffic (strategic routes) |
Monthly |
|
Main roads linking different parts of the city (main distributor routes) |
Monthly |
|
Other busy roads (secondary distributor routes) |
Every 6 months |
|
Roads linking local areas (link routes) |
Every 6 months |
|
Residential and local roads (local access routes) |
Once a year |
Pavement inspections
|
Pavement type |
Inspection frequency |
|---|---|
|
Busy city centre and shopping area routes (prestige walking routes) |
Monthly |
|
Main walking routes (primary walking routes) |
Monthly |
|
Other well-used walking routes (secondary walking routes) |
Every 6 months |
|
Routes linking local areas (link walking routes) |
Every 6 months |
|
Residential and local walking routes (local access walking routes) |
Once a year |
Cycle route inspections
|
Cycle route type |
Inspection frequency |
|---|---|
|
Cycle lanes on roads |
Inspected when the road is inspected |
|
Cycle tracks away from the road |
Every 6 months |
Public rights of way
|
Route type |
Inspection frequency |
|---|---|
|
Public rights of way (privately maintainable) |
Once a year |
Assessing reported problems
We assess every reported problem based on the risk it presents.
Category 1: Dangerous defects
These defects need urgent action because they could cause harm to people using the road, pavement or cycle route.
Category 2: Non-urgent defects
These defects are not immediately dangerous, but need repair work to keep the highway in good condition.
Page last updated: 15 September 2026