Written Question · S6W-23407 · Session 6
How (a) many potholes have been reported and (b) much has been spent on repairing potholes on the (i) A92/A96 Haudagain Roundabout, (ii) A9…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government how (a) many potholes have been reported and (b) much has been spent on repairing potholes on the (i) A92/A96 Haudagain Roundabout, (ii) A92 Trunk Road (Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route) (Stonehaven to Charleston), (iii) A956 Trunk Road (Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route) (Cleanhill to Charleston) and (iv) M90/A90/A9000 Trunk Road (Edinburgh to Fraserburgh), in each of the past five years.
The answer
Transport Scotland, through its four Trunk Road Operating Companies and five Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways.? The repair of potholes on all other roads is the responsibility of the local authorities.
Category 1 potholes are defined within the term maintenance contract as those that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. They are typically detected during driven safety related inspections. The following table shows the number of Category 1 potholes recorded since 2019 for each section of network requested.
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
A92/A96 Haudagain Roundabout
0
0
0
0
0
A92 Trunk Road (AWPR)
(Stonehaven to Charleston)
21
41
21
38
16
A956 Trunk Road (AWPR)
(Cleanhill to Charleston)
0
0
0
0
1
M90/A90/A9000 Trunk Road (Edinburgh to Fraserburgh)
546
854
673
934
309
The Scottish Government fully funds the inspection and repair of all Category 1 potholes and the term maintenance contracts set out strict timescales for their repair. Following identification of Category 1 pothole defects, the Operating Companies are required to make the defect safe by 6am the following morning, preferably by completing a permanent repair. Where this is not possible then a temporary repair is required within the same timescale and permanent repairs are required within 28 days.
We currently do not hold data on the cost of Category 1 pothole repairs that allows it to be broken down into the network sections in the table above. The total expenditure for Category 1 defect repairs (which includes potholes) for the full financial year 2022-23 across the whole of the North East Unit is £440,650. Data for previous years is not available as prior to 2022 Category 1 defect repairs were funded from commercially sensitive monthly lump sums.
Category 1 potholes are defined within the term maintenance contract as those that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. They are typically detected during driven safety related inspections. The following table shows the number of Category 1 potholes recorded since 2019 for each section of network requested.
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
A92/A96 Haudagain Roundabout
0
0
0
0
0
A92 Trunk Road (AWPR)
(Stonehaven to Charleston)
21
41
21
38
16
A956 Trunk Road (AWPR)
(Cleanhill to Charleston)
0
0
0
0
1
M90/A90/A9000 Trunk Road (Edinburgh to Fraserburgh)
546
854
673
934
309
The Scottish Government fully funds the inspection and repair of all Category 1 potholes and the term maintenance contracts set out strict timescales for their repair. Following identification of Category 1 pothole defects, the Operating Companies are required to make the defect safe by 6am the following morning, preferably by completing a permanent repair. Where this is not possible then a temporary repair is required within the same timescale and permanent repairs are required within 28 days.
We currently do not hold data on the cost of Category 1 pothole repairs that allows it to be broken down into the network sections in the table above. The total expenditure for Category 1 defect repairs (which includes potholes) for the full financial year 2022-23 across the whole of the North East Unit is £440,650. Data for previous years is not available as prior to 2022 Category 1 defect repairs were funded from commercially sensitive monthly lump sums.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-23407 by reference.