Our work to improve the county's roads
Keeping our roads moving
Since 1 April 2026, we have focused on repairing the damage caused by last winter's weather while preparing for what is forecast to be another challenging winter. Works include:
- more than 15,000 potholes repaired
- over 29,00 drainage assets cleared
- 110,200 sqm of carriageway patched
- 75 drainage repair and improvement schemes
- targeted works on roads most affected by winter conditions
County Council prepares roads for challenging winter after year of extreme weather
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Stepping up action to protect West Sussex roads from extreme weather
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Find out how we're doing where you live and how we repair potholes
Our challenge
Roads are not permanent structures; they deteriorate over time.
Extreme weather fluctuations in recent years have accelerated the decline.
To get our entire network into perfect condition, we'd need £400 million for surfacing works alone.
We’d also need to carry out a large amount of structural and drainage works, especially on rural roads, which don’t have the same underlying infrastructure as urban roads.
The annual budget allocation for Highways isn’t just for pothole repairs and surfacing works; it also covers the implementation and maintenance of:
- footways and cycleways
- bridges and subways
- drainage assets such as gullies, ditches and grips
- streetlights, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings
- safety fencing, pedestrian barriers and bollards
- road markings and signage
- grass verges, trees, hedges and planted areas.
Minimising flood risk
Reducing flood risk remains a key priority ahead of winter, with the council continuing to work with landowners and partner organisations to address drainage issues and improve flood resilience.
Over the next eight weeks, 63 flood-prone locations across West Sussex will receive proactive drainage cleansing to help ensure drainage systems are functioning effectively before winter conditions arrive.
During the winter months, we will continue to:
- Carry out jetting priority works including CCTV operations
- Complete proactive gully top and grip cutting works
- Respond to emergency situations that are causing disruption
- Work with our district and borough council partners who have responsibility for clearing the roadside gullies
It’s important to note that when we’ve had prolonged periods of heavy rain, the sheer volume of water means that no highway drainage can work effectively, as the outlet for highway water is over capacity and the water in our system simply can’t go anywhere. This results in carriageway flooding and there is little we can do until water levels fall.
Enhancing winter services
We have invested in modernising our winter service operation through fleet enhancements and new treatment technology to improve efficiency and resilience during freezing conditions.
New equipment has been installed at our highway depots and on our gritting vehicles to enable salt to be pre-wetted as it is spread onto the road. This helps it adhere more effectively to the carriageway, making sure that it remains where it is needed.
The improvements will help ensure salt stocks are used more efficiently while maintaining the effectiveness of winter treatments across the county’s priority road network.
What we're investing
This year the council is investing £60.7 million in maintaining and improving highways in West Sussex.
More than 70% of the budget is for work designed to limit the number of potholes forming in the first place, such as re-surfacing, large-scale patching and drainage improvements.
Our highways capital delivery programme will invest £40 million of this money delivering over 230 schemes across the county.
Of these projects, 130 will involve carriageway patching and resurfacing, with funding allocated to repairing damage caused by flooding.
At the same time, £20.7 million of revenue funding will be spent on ongoing maintenance, including repairing potholes, small-scale carriageway patching, drainage maintenance, vegetation management and winter gritting.
Highways infrastructure
The Highway and Transport Delivery Programme identifies highways infrastructure maintenance and transport improvement schemes.
It is funded from Highway Maintenance and Transport Improvement Grants, supported by other external contributions such as development section 106 funding (developer contributions) and West Sussex County Council's corporate capital funding.
The programme maintains our roads, footways and highway infrastructure elements, such as bridges and traffic signals.
How you can help
Report flooding, blocked drains or gullies.
Report other issues e.g. damaged streetlights or parking issue.
Keep drainage gullies outside of your property clear of leaf debris on the gully tops if it is safe to do so.
Adhere to your riparian duties by keeping any watercourse that runs through or immediately adjacent to your property free flowing.