Local highways maintenance transparency report
The Department for Transport expects all local highways authorities to publish information about their highways maintenance activities to help local taxpayers see the difference that funding is making in their areas.
Our highway network
Portsmouth City Council manages a large network of roads, footpaths, and cycleways. We also manage several public rights of way, which are paths for pedestrians and cyclists.
Our Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2023-2033 (PDF) aims to keep these paths accessible and well-maintained. Key assets in our network include highway structures, street lighting, street furniture and traffic management systems.
Most of these are managed through our contract with Ensign Highways, which ensures they are kept in good condition through regular inspections and assessments. Our Highways Asset Management Strategy (PDF) serves as a basis for the development of detailed asset management planning and its implementation.
Lengths of highway, footway and cycleways:
- A road: 62km
- B and C roads: 35km
- U roads: 408km
- Total roads: 505km
- Footways: 256km
- Other public rights of way: 8km
- Cycleways: 27km
Additionally, Portsmouth's coastal location means that we manage several coastal paths and areas prone to flooding. Coastal management projects, such as the Southsea Coastal Scheme and the North Portsea Coastal Scheme, are crucial for protecting these areas from erosion and flooding.
These projects involve constructing and maintaining sea defences, improving drainage systems, and ensuring that coastal paths are safe and accessible. By integrating coastal management into our overall highways and coastal maintenance service, we aim to create a resilient infrastructure that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events.