Highway Maintenance
The Highway Network
The highway network is made up of a number of individual asset groups.
| Roads (carriageways) A Roads 74km B and C Roads 68km U Roads 565km Total Roads (carriageways) 707km  |
Bridges and Structures 448 |
|
| Street Furniture 106,001  |
 25,609 |
|
 Public Rights of Way 268km |
Footways 1,153km  |
|
Highway Maintenance
Inspections
Tameside council regularly inspect the highway network to ensure any defects are recorded. This important condition data helps the council plan to carry out maintenance works and improvements to the roads, pavements and other highway infrastructure across the borough.
Type of Works
The condition of highway assets determine what type of treatment is required – examples include:
Pothole Repairs
There is a dedicated team that inspect all roads and footways across the borough in line with the council’s Risk Management policy which can be read here. The defect is highlighted with spray paint on the adjacent footway. The area is squared off, cleared of debris and filled with the appropriate material, sometimes, dependant on the environment this may be a temporary repair and the team will return to complete a permanent repair at a later date.
Patching Works
Often undertaken where many potholes are ‘breaking out’ in an area. The area is scarified and a new surface course of bituminous material is applied.
Surface Treatment
Preserving and extending the life of existing surfacing which is just starting to fail. A coating is applied that helps regulate and waterproof the road in order to reduce further deterioration.
A well-established technique used by Highway Authorities which offers an extremely cost-effective alternative to full resurfacing. The finished surface of the road will not be as long lasting as a road renewal/reconstruction, and the appearance of the finish will not be as smooth as new tarmac or asphalt. It can also take several months of pedestrian or vehicle traffic for the material to bed-in and it will not necessarily hide all the unevenness of the original highway construction beneath. This is one of the many options available on a case-by-case basis, depending on the condition of the road. Large areas of the city can be treated in any one year.
Road Renewal or Reconstruction
Removing some or all of the structural layers of a road to be replaced with a full new surface.
Programme of Works
Maintenance of the highway is split between reactive repairs to small defects and potholes on footways and carriageways and planned works to larger areas of the network.
We are carrying out road resurfacing works (non-reactive) across the borough to improve safety, reduce defects and extend the life of our roads. Our current programme of works can be found here. All dates shown are expected and may change due to weather or operational requirements. This programme will be updated regularly with any significant changes.