Page contents
- Pothole repairs
- Repair improvements
- Report potholes
- Repair checks
- Repair costs
- Cones and signs removal
- Claims for damage
- More information
Pothole repairs
Our priority is to keep the roads safe.
We respond immediately to potholes that could be a danger to road-users. These potholes will normally be repaired straightaway but may be temporarily sectioned off with cones where this is not possible.
We prioritise other potholes by severity and location such as busy town centres and A roads.
We aim to repair potholes within a month. Sometimes, we do temporary repairs on very busy roads or if the surface is wet. These repairs are marked 'Temp' or 'T'.
We make semi-permanent repairs on roads where resurfacing is planned as part of our Horizon Programme. These could be large patches or we might use the Jetpatcher machine to fill the potholes and make them safe until resurfacing starts.
Where roads are not in the current Horizon Programme, we are developing an emergency patching programme. You may notice an increase in temporary pothole repairs in these locations to keep the road safe while we plan new, larger scale repairs.
We always try to co-ordinate repairs with planned works by utility companies in the local area. However, it is not always possible because reactive defects (ranging from potholes and footway trips to defective drains and road signs that if left unrepaired or unattended could cause injury or damage) can't be scheduled in advance.
Repair improvements
We're now repairing multiple potholes, or other defects in the road that are close together, as one patch. These bigger patches last longer.
Our technicians are trialling new techniques to repair potholes as well as video and Artificial intelligence technology to find them quicker.
Report potholes
Before you report a pothole, please read the following information:
Our inspection schedule continues to monitor road conditions to identify if repairs are needed. Potholes that are less than 3cm on a road, 2cm on a footway or 2.5cm on a cycle lane will be monitored but not repaired, unless they become worse.
Please do not report potholes that have already been reported
- If we know about a pothole, we will be investigating it already. You can check on our map when you report it online to see if a pothole has been reported already.
- Reporting a pothole more than once does not mean it will be repaired faster. We prioritise potholes that could be a danger to road-users and those in busy areas such as town centres and on A roads. We do not take into consideration the number of times a pothole is reported.
- If multiple potholes are located close together on the road, our teams will inspect them all in a single visit.
Please do not report potholes that have already been inspected
If there is orange paint around a pothole, it has been inspected and we will return to repair it.
Report a pothole or condition of a road
Repair checks
Our current workload means we can't check all potholes after they've been fixed. However, all permanent repairs are guaranteed by our contractors for two years. Any work that does not meet our high standards will be repaired at no extra cost to Surrey County Council.
Repair costs
Road maintenance and repair has become increasingly expensive due to high levels of inflation in the supply chain. So, we have less money to do more work.
However, it's not just about costs. There are many other restrictions on our ability to fix every road. For example, current shortages in contractor supply and the impact of closing large stretches of roads for long periods on residents, communities and the local economy.
Cones and signs removal
Sometimes, cones, signs and other equipment get left behind. Report traffic signs, barriers or cones left on the road.
Claims for damage
Surrey County Council is only liable to pay for damage to vehicles if it can be proved that we have been negligent in the inspection and maintenance of our roads. Find out about Highways insurance claims.
More information
Find out more about Maintaining our roads.
