Our plans for highways maintenance for 2026-27
The programme of works for Wirral Council for 2026 to 2027 was approved at committee in March 2026.
- Length of roads planned to be resurfaced - 8.9 km
- Length of roads planned to receive preventative road surface treatments - 76.7 km
- Length of pavements (footways) planned to be renewed – 9.1 km
Resurfacing works on the network comprise predominantly of 50mm plane out of existing carriageway and resurface with 35/14 HRA with precoats. There are certain areas of the network i.e. roundabouts and narrow roads will be resurfaced with an SMA product.
Preventative surface treatments comprise of a suite of different treatments such as surface dressing, micro surfacing, single coat micro surfacing, asphalt rejuvenation, and concrete rejuvenation.
The footway programme comprises a mixture of surface treatment for existing bituminous footways with an element of refurbishment which is changing the surface from flags to bitmac, or a mixture of the two.
Full list of planned carriageway and footway works
Appendix 2 Proposed Carriageway and Footway Improvements 2026-27.pdf
How decisions are made on our maintenance plans
We prioritise highway maintenance using a risk-based approach that considers asset condition, public safety, network hierarchy, service impact and whole life value. Prioritisation is determined by a range of factors including condition survey data, inspector observations, Councillor consultation feedback and maintenance history.
We also consider risk factors such as network hierarchy, traffic levels, bus and emergency-service routes, and proximity of key social infrastructure. A strong emphasis is placed on preventative treatments, delivered at the optimum point in an asset’s lifecycle, to slow deterioration, extend service life and reduce the need for more costly reactive repairs. Available funding is targeted towards works that provide the greatest risk reduction and whole-life value. Schemes are coordinated with utility works and other programmes to minimise disruption, avoid repeat excavation and support efficient delivery.