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https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/road-conditions

Thousands of miles of UK roads in poor condition
https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/road-conditions

roads roads-and-highways shareddataunit transport

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Thousands of miles of UK roads in poor condition

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# Thousands of miles of UK roads in poor condition



![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/E7D4/production/_100484395_7b02c3dd-968f-4286-b18f-1304f2d9faa0.jpg)



In March 2018 the BBC Shared Data Unit [reported](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43407167) some 10% of the road network maintained by local authorities in Great Britain is in poor condition, or had been flagged for further inspection.



We analysed eight years' of public data from the Department for Transport (DfT), the National Improvement Service for Local Government in Scotland, and six years' of data from Data Unit Wales’ Local Authority Performance. The Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure was unable to provide us with comparable data on the condition of its roads.



Our analysis revealed about 37,000 kilometres (22,990 miles) across England, Wales and Scotland fell below top standard in surveys.



The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:



* Daventry Express: [SPECIAL REPORT: Combined length of unsafe roads in Northamptonshire would stretch from here to Liverpool](https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/news/special-report-combined-length-of-unsafe-roads-in-northamptonshire-would-stretch-from-here-to-liverpool-1-8422350) *19 March*

* The Scotsman: [A third of Scotland’s roads are deemed to be in need of repair](https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/a-third-of-scotland-s-roads-are-deemed-to-be-in-need-of-repair-1-4708707) *20 March*

* Southern Daily Echo: [Figures reveal more than 170 miles of Hampshire's roads were in need of repair last year](http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/16097779.Figures_reveal_more_than_170_miles_of_region__39_s_roads_were_in_need_of_repair_last_year/) *20 March*

* Yorkshire Evening Post: [37,000 kilometres of UK's roads in poor condition, study reveals. But what about Yorkshire?](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/transport/37-000-kilometres-of-uk-s-roads-in-poor-condition-study-reveals-but-what-about-yorkshire-1-9072553) *20 March*

* Your Thurrock: [Potholes: Thousands of miles of UK roads in poor condition](http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/03/20/potholes-thousands-miles-uk-roads-poor-condition/) *20 March*

* Scotland: STV News: [More than a quarter of Scottish roads in poor condition](https://stv.tv/news/scotland/1410688-more-than-a-quarter-of-scottish-roads-in-poor-condition/) *20 March*

* The Northern Echo:[North-East councils 'would have spend nearly £1bn' to fix pothole problem](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/southdurham/spennymoor/16100111.Councils___39_would_have_spend_nearly___1bn__39__to_fix_pothole_problem/) *20 March*

* Bob FM: [Potholes, bumps and lumps: Why it's claimed 1-in-5 local roads are in a poor condition](http://www.bobfm.co.uk/news/local-news/potholes-bumps-and-lumps-why-its-claimed-1-in-5-local-roads-are-in-a-poor-condition/) *20 March*

* Southern Daily Echo: [Hampshire County Council transport chief Rob Humby slams lack of funding for state of county's roads](http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/16100166.Transport_chief_slams_lack_of_funding_for_state_of_county__39_s_roads/) *21 March*

* Worcester News: [Worcestershire has some of the best kept roads in the region, new figures show](http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/16103570.Worcestershire_has_some_of_the_best_kept_roads_in_the_region__new_figures_show/) *21 March*

* South Wales Argus: [150 miles of roads across Gwent in 'poor condition'](http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/16102658.150_miles_of_roads_across_Gwent_in__poor_condition_/) *21 March*

* Staffs Live: [Increase in Stoke-on-Trent roads deemed poor due to ‘ridiculous’ potholes](https://staffslive.co.uk/2018/03/increase-in-stoke-on-trent-roads-deemed-poor-due-to-ridiculous-potholes/) *23 March*

* Wrexham: The Leader: [Wrexham has some of the worst potholes in Wales](http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/16112862.Wrexham_has_some_of_the_worst_potholes_in_Wales/) *23 March*

* Edinburgh Evening News: [Edinburgh Council on potholes: ‘We’re getting better, but we can improve’](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/edinburgh-council-on-potholes-we-re-getting-better-but-we-can-improve-1-4711250) *23 March*

* Romsey Advertiser: [Transport chief blames government funding in pothole row](http://www.romseyadvertiser.co.uk/news/16115610.transport-chief-blames-government-funding-in-pothole-row/) *26 March*

* Solihull Observer: [Solihull will benefit from £300k fund to repair potholes and damaged roads](https://solihullobserver.co.uk/news/west-midlands-will-benefit-from-fund-to-repair-potholes-and-damaged-roads-5659/) *26 March*

* Bromsgrove Advertiser: [Worcestershire has some of the best kept roads in the region, new figures show](http://www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/news/16103570.worcestershire-has-some-of-the-best-kept-roads-in-the-region-new-figures-show/?ref=mr&lp=16) *21 March*

* Free Press: [150 miles of roads across Gwent in 'poor condition'](http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/16102659.150_miles_of_roads_across_Gwent_in___39_poor_condition__39_/) *21 March*

* Hampshire Chronicle: [County transport chief Cllr Rob Humby slams government funding for state of Hampshire's roads](http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/16116190.County_transport_chief_slams_government_funding_for_state_of_Hampshire_s_roads/) *21 March*

* Wales: The Leader: [Pothole-ridden roads a "patchwork quilt" across Flintshire](http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/16146325.Pothole_ridden_roads_a__quot_patchwork_quilt_quot__across_Flintshire/) *9 April*



The story was also covered by: BBC News at Six, BBC WM, BBC Wales and BBC Radio Kent.



Non-partner coverage:



* Staffs Live: [Increase in Stoke-on-Trent roads deemed poor due to ‘ridiculous’ potholes](https://staffslive.co.uk/2018/03/increase-in-stoke-on-trent-roads-deemed-poor-due-to-ridiculous-potholes/) *23 March*

* Coventry Observer: [Coventry will benefit from £300k fund to repair potholes and damaged roads](https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/west-midlands-will-benefit-from-fund-to-repair-potholes-and-damaged-roads-5659/) *26 March*

* Government Business: [10 per cent of local road network in poor condition](https://www.governmentbusiness.co.uk/news/20032018/10-cent-local-road-network-poor-condition) *20 March*

* Cycling Weekly: [Britain’s pothole crisis: Over 24,000 miles of road need urgent repair](http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/britains-pothole-crisis-over-24000-miles-of-road-need-urgent-repair-373708) *20 March*

* Infrastructure Intelligence: [Scottish Government announces extra £10m for road maintenance following cold snap](http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/apr-2018/scottish-government-announces-extra-%C2%A310m-road-maintenance-following-cold-snap#) *6 April*

* World Highways: [UK government pledges pothole pounds](http://www.worldhighways.com/categories/maintenance-utility/news/uk-government-pledges-pothole-pounds/) *12 April*



## Get the data



* [Road conditions data](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o_uoPFQpgMydsyyfTjYB9Nafpz2ULNSR6tXZA7nCj1o/edit#gid=0)



## Visualisation



* Bar chart: English regions with the highest percentages of roads needing repairs

* Bar chart: Welsh council areas with the highest percentages of roads needing repairs in 2016-17

* Bar chart: Ten areas in Scotland with the largest proportons of roads needing repairs or inspection 2015-17



## Background and briefing



* [Project briefing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BWkbccu2zx9TrtQAO_f0CIoOFfRtYEGZcHG7mHnmvuc/edit#)