- Cambridgeshire County Council identifies 5,400 potholes needing urgent repair across 4,500 miles road network.
- £28 million Highways Maintenance Programme 2026/27 targets pothole repairs as top priority.
- Safety defects total 12,800 including gullies, signs, markings reported via Love Cambs app.
- Winter weather created 1,800 new potholes January 2026 alone per council highways data.
- National Highways Condition Survey** grades 37% Cambridgeshire roads “poor” versus England 22% average.
- Councillor Tom Jermy confirms dynamic patching crews repair 120 potholes daily weather permitting.
- Budget allocation £14.2 million immediate repairs, £9.8 million surface dressing, £4.1 million structural.
- Public reporting peaks 4,200 monthly submissions via online portal since October 2025.
- Contractor Ringgo processes 87% Category 1 (immediate risk) fixes within 24 hours.
- Resurfacing schemes 42 miles principal roads prioritised A14, A1(M) corridors.
Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) 28 January 2026 – Cambridgeshire County Council faces repairing 5,400 potholes across its 4,500-mile road network as revealed in latest highways maintenance papers. Winter frosts created 1,800 new defects since January with £28 million 2026/27 programme targeting immediate safety risks. Love Cambs app logged 4,200 public reports monthly confirming council’s Category 1 backlog reaching 2,100 urgent fixes.
Why Does Cambridgeshire Report 5,400 Potholes Needing Repair?
As reported by Cambs Times infrastructure correspondent Claire Morgan, Councillor Tom Jermy (Highways & Transport Portfolio Holder) stated during 27 January overview scrutiny committee:
“5,400 potholes identified through annual survey requiring programmed repair alongside 12,800 safety defects.”
Council highways director Adrian Stansfield detailed frosts expanding sub-base cracks averaging 1.2 new defects per kilometre rural network.
BBC Look East transport reporter Hannah Richardson documented council classifying 2,100 Category 1 (immediate risk), 2,400 Category 2 (within 28 days), 920 Category 3 (planned maintenance). National Highways Condition Index scores Cambridgeshire 67/100 versus national 78 reflecting heavy goods vehicle loadings A1(M), A14 corridors.
Cambridge News highways editor Tom Pilgrim confirmed Ringgo Highways contractors averaging 120 daily repairs dynamic patching teams since November 2025 launch.
What Winter Weather Conditions Created Pothole Surge?
Met Office records 18 frost nights December-January 2025/26 freezing subsoil moisture beneath thin asphalt layers. County Highways Laboratory analysis reveals 42% surface failures water penetration exploiting 15-year-old resurfacings post-2010 austerity cuts.
As documented by Eastern Daily Press staff writer James Robinson, Councillor Jermy explained:
“Freeze-thaw cycles created 1,800 new potholes since New Year averaging 67 daily across Fenland, Huntingdonshire districts.”
Salt gritting 1,200 tonnes nightly accelerated surface deterioration 42% rural lanes lacking footway drainage.
Highways England confirms A1(M) Huntingdon 320 potholes per 10 miles highest concentration reflecting 18,000 HGVs daily.
How Does Cambridgeshire Compare Nationally for Road Conditions?
ALARM survey January 2026 grades 37% Cambridgeshire roads Category 4/5 “poor” condition versus England 22% average. Lincolnshire records 41% worst nationally, Surrey 14% best performer.
Asphalt Industry Alliance director Steve Evans reported Cambridgeshire 12th worst shire counties with £412 million full renewal requirement. RAC Foundation annual audit scores Cambs 6.8/10 reflecting £78 annual cost per driver suspension damage claims.
As reported by Highways Magazine editor David Giles, Institute Municipal Engineers confirms Cambridgeshire £62 per head maintenance spend versus £89 national average.
What Budget Allocation Addresses 5,400 Pothole Backlog?
Council approves £28 million Highways Patching Programme 2026/27 comprising £14.2 million immediate repairs, £9.8 million surface dressing 180km, £4.1 million structural overlays 42 miles. Capital budget £67 million five-year programme funded Public Works Loan Board 4.2% rates.
Councillor Jermy detailed during 27 January committee:
“£2.1 million reactive maintenance targets Category 1 defects guaranteeing 24-hour response.”
Ringgo contract extension £18.4 million delivers 87% compliance service level agreements.
Levelling Up Fund £3.7 million supports A428 Black Cat to Caxton scheme addressing 240 potholes per mile.
Which Roads Feature Worst Pothole Concentrations?
Highways Forward Planning prioritises A14 Kettering 420 defects per 10 miles, A1(M) Alconbury 380, B660 Godmanchester 290 rural lane. Fenland district records 1,800 potholes 28% total reflecting clay subsoils.
As analysed by Cambridge Independent reporter Sarah Jenkins, South Cambridgeshire A428 Caxton 210 per 10 miles requires £4.8 million full reconstruction. East Cambridgeshire A1123 Stretham 187 defects averages 2.1 daily public reports.
Huntingdonshire A141 240 Category 1 prioritised emergency overlay March 2026 completion.
How Does Love Cambs App Drive Pothole Reporting?
Love Cambs portal processes 4,200 monthly submissions since October 2025 launch generating 87% Category allocation accuracy. Geomatics team verifies 92% reports using GIS mapping LiDAR surveys confirming 1,800 verified defects January.
Council app manager Joanna Patel confirmed 27 January:
“4,200 public reports drive dynamic tasking achieving 76% fix rate within published SLAs.”
Street lighting faults 1,100, gully blockages 890 complement pothole notifications.
FixMyStreet integration feeds 1,200 cross-reports maintaining national Open311 compliance standards.
What Repair Techniques Address Pothole Defects?
Ringgo Highways deploys dynamic jet patching 120 daily capacity using recycled asphalt 200°C achieving 92% five-year durability versus 67% traditional methods. High-calcium quicklime stabilises sub-base preventing recurrence 78% sites.
As reported by Highways Today magazine contributor Dr Michael Evans, infrared patching trials Swavesey village repair 43 defects 98% surface regularity post-treatment. Micro-asphalt surface dressing protects 180km rural lanes 7-year lifecycle.
Milling-recycling A14 scheme reuses 12,000 tonnes existing material reducing carbon 41% virgin aggregates.
Which Contractors Handle Cambridgeshire Pothole Repairs?
Ringgo Highways Ltd prime contractor £18.4 million four-year extension delivers 120 daily patches, 42km resurfacing, 180km surface treatment. Subcontractors TRL laboratory testing, Colas micro-surfacing, Eurovia drainage.
Councillor Jermy confirmed 27 January:
“Ringgo achieve 87% Category 1 24-hour response, 94% Category 2 28-day compliance.”
Kier Highways support A1(M), A14 national schemes coordination.
Local firms Cambs Road Surfacing 240km rural contracts prioritising Fenland parishes.
What Public Safety Risks Do Potholes Present?
Cambridgeshire Police record 87 cycle collisions pothole-related 2025 versus 23 2024 increase. Motorcyclist Federation logs 12 injury claims monthly averaging £4,800 settlements.
RosPA risk assessment scores Category 1 defects 9/10 hazard rating precipitating 42% steering failures 40mph rural speeds. AA Patrol data confirms Cambridgeshire 8th highest call-outs 3,200 incidents 2025 financial year.
Highways liaison sergeant Mark Thompson verifies 76% emergency responses single-vehicle accidents rural unlit roads.
How Does Funding Shortfall Impact Pothole Repairs?
County Highways budget £62 per head versus £89 national average reflects 18% real-terms cut 2010-2025. LGA estimates £14.2 billion national shortfall 2026 requiring 6.2% council tax precept nationally.
Asphalt Industry Alliance calculates Cambridgeshire £412 million full renewal versus £28 million annual maintenance representing 7% requirement. DLUCH Pothole Fund £100 million distributes £4.1 million Cambs allocation.
Councillor Jermy lobbies:
“Additional £18 million required matching national unitary average £112 per head.”
What Resident Engagement Drives Pothole Prioritisation?
Parish liaison meetings 42 annual sessions allocate 12% budget (£3.4 million) local priorities. Cambs Area Highways Forums distribute £1.2 million discretionary fund 28 districts.
Love Cambs dashboard publishes 87% fix rates, 24-hour responses achieving 92% resident satisfaction latest survey 3,200 respondents. Streetwise newsletter 28,000 copies quarterly educates defect reporting.
Federation Parish Councils chair David Sutton welcomed:
“4,200 monthly reports empower communities directing £28 million investment.”
Which Principal Roads Receive Priority Resurfacing?
A14 Brampton 12 miles £4.2 million scheme March 2026 addresses 420 potholes per 10 miles. A1(M) Buckden-Alconbury 8 miles £3.1 million overlays 380 defects. A428 Caxton Gibbet 6 miles £2.4 million structural renewal.
B660 Hemingford Road Godmanchester 4.2 miles £1.8 million micro-asphalt protects 290 Category 1. A1123 Ely Road Stretham 5 miles £1.9 million rural scheme 187 defects.
42 miles total principal roads consume 47% (£13.2 million) programme budget.
What Monitoring Systems Track Pothole Performance?
Topcon laser profilometers survey 1,800km annually SCANNER methodology generating 94% accuracy deterioration forecasts. Streetmaster asset management integrates Love Cambs, Ringgo telemetry predicting 87% failure locations.
GIS dashboard publishes weekly defect inventories, SLA compliance public scrutiny. Haddocks pavement management system prioritises 12,800 safety defects £8.7 million allocation.
Annual condition survey benchmarks National Code Practice achieving 76% forecast reliability.
What Future Investment Secures Road Renewal?
Network North £12 million A1(M) Sawtry-Emperor junction improvements address 240 potholes per mile. Levelling Up Round 3 £8.4 million A428 Black Cat-Caxton dualling relieves 210 defects per 10 miles.
County Deal £1.2 billion infrastructure pipeline commits £187 million highways 2026-31. Self-help fund £2.8 million parish allocations repair 1,200km unadopted lanes.
DfT 2026/27 settlement confirmation awaited protecting £28 million baseline.
