Highways maintenance transparency report 2026

Highways maintenance transparency report 2026

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

North Northamptonshire Council is the highway authority for highway assets on the local road network and is responsible for managing and maintaining a large and varied highway network that supports everyday journeys, access to services, public transport, local businesses and the wider economy. Highway assets include carriageways, footways and cycleways, verges, highway drainage, highway bridges and structures, traffic signs, road markings, traffic signals and public rights of way.

Maintaining these assets safely and efficiently requires regular inspection, condition monitoring, planned maintenance and targeted investment so that the network remains safe, serviceable and resilient for local communities.  The following are our key assets, each of which has a dedicated Highways Asset Management Plan.

• Carriageways: total length of approximately 1,853 km
• Footways: total length of approximately 1965 km
• Bridges and structures: 791 highway structures
• Traffic signals: 61 signalised junctions and 128 signalised pedestrian crossings
• Drainage: including 76,311 gullies, 1302 channels and 108 catchpits

Maintaining North Northamptonshire’s highway network is challenging because of its scale, varied asset types and differing ages, condition and lifecycles. The network includes heavily used strategic routes and local access roads, all requiring inspection, prioritisation and timely intervention. Traffic levels, safety risks, customer expectations and the need to keep routes available add pressure; while ageing assets and constrained funding can limit long-term renewal. Weather impacts, including flooding, winter conditions and climate-related deterioration, increase demand for reactive repairs and resilience planning.

The strategic highway network of motorway and trunk roads (A14 and A45) are the responsibility of National Highways to manage and maintain, so are not included within the above figures.

Last updated 25 August 2026