How we maintain local roads, pavements, and the wider highway network in Wirral
What we are responsible for maintaining
| Carriageways | 1,202 km |
|---|---|
| Footways | 1,915.5 km |
| Streetlights | 38,001 |
| Drainage Gullies | 59,766 |
| Highway Bridges | 83 |
| Traffic Signs | 20,139 |
| Traffic Signals | 3,637 |
The above list covers significant assets we’re responsible for maintaining but is not exhaustive.
Wirral’s highway network faces significant maintenance challenges due to its size, age and the diverse range of assets that require ongoing management. Much of the network is ageing and subject to continual deterioration, increasing the need for timely investment to maintain safety, reliability and serviceability.
High traffic volumes and increasing vehicle weights place considerable pressure on highway assets and accelerate wear. In addition, the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events associated with climate change, including intense rainfall, flooding, prolonged wet periods, heatwaves and storms, are placing additional stress on highway infrastructure. These events can accelerate deterioration, increase drainage and flooding issues, damage highway structures and shorten the lifespan of road surfaces.
The sector also faces challenges associated with recruitment and retention of suitably skilled highway professionals, resulting in increased competition for specialist expertise and therefore placing additional pressure on service delivery. Alongside this, contractor availability and differing levels of specialist capability within the supply chain can further affect the timing, cost and quality of maintenance and improvement works, particularly where specialist skills or resources are required.
Maintaining the network is further influenced by resource availability, requiring a careful balance between addressing immediate defects and investing in preventative maintenance that extends asset life and reduces long-term costs. Utility works present an additional challenge, as frequent excavations can affect the integrity and long-term performance of roads and footways, increase maintenance requirements and create disruption for residents and businesses. Effective prioritisation, coordination and preventative maintenance are therefore essential to maintaining a safe, resilient and efficient highway network.