Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) has published detailed progress report on its highway services.
The documents released ahead of the Place Select Committee meeting next week highlight enhanced infrastructure, climate concerns, and improving services for residents.
Investment in Infrastructure
The 2024/25 fiscal year has seen an unprecedented £66.5 million invested in highways. This funding is distributed as follows:
- £33 million for structural capital maintenance, including £4 million in additional Council contributions.
- £5 million for integrated transport schemes, including pedestrian crossings and road safety initiatives.
- £28 million from external sources for projects such as flood risk alleviation, active travel programmes, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Highways Services
Via East Midlands Ltd (Via), NCC’s highway partner, has reported an extensive workload during the first half of 2024/25:
- Over 25,202 pothole repairs, including 25,601 m² of patch repairs.
- 48,475 gullies and offlets cleansed, a 28% reduction in the use of cold materials like Viafix.
- 3,983 streetlights repaired, with 444 columns replaced.
- 48,761 highway inspections conducted, exceeding targets from the previous year.
Key performance indicators for pothole repairs show improvements, with Category 1 repairs reaching 94.36% compliance, a 2.85% increase compared to the same period in 2023/24.
Climate Challenges
The winter of 2023/24 posed significant challenges, with extensive damage caused by Storm Babet and Storm Henk. To bolster resilience, NCC allocated:
- £467,000 for drainage works, employing additional teams and accelerating gully cleansing cycles.
- £4.8 million for winter readiness programmes, including enhanced patching and structural repairs.
This proactive approach aims to mitigate future storm impacts and improve road network resilience.
Technology and Sustainability
A key highlight of 2024/25 has been the implementation of innovative technologies:
- The Vaisala Road AI system, a cutting-edge survey technique, now enables high-definition video data collection for 100% coverage of unclassified roads and up to 12 annual surveys of major routes.
- A £651,760 Traffic Signal Obsolescence Grant is funding the county’s largest upgrade of traffic signal equipment, transitioning from halogen to LED lamps. This retrofit is expected to save £20,800 annually on energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 630 kg per site.
NCC and Via have strengthened their public engagement strategies. Initiatives include:
- Improved social media presence for real-time updates and myth-busting.
- The introduction of video explainers and enhanced automated email responses.
- A revamped website and proactive signage for on-site works.
NCC has updated core strategy documents, including the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) and the Highway Network Management Plan (HNMP).
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