Release date: 10 September 2026
A recent report outlines West Sussex County Council's (WSCC) continued commitment and investment in the county's highways, alongside the proactive and preventative approach being taken to look after and improve one of the county's most important public assets.
The report, which has been published on the council's website, has been produced in response to a Department for Transport (DfT) requirement for all local highways authorities to provide transparency about how they manage and maintain their highway networks.
It provides information about the condition of West Sussex's roads and highlights how WSCC continues to invest in improving the network and keeping it in good repair, using inspections, road condition data and safety information to decide where funding will have the biggest impact.
The report details that during 2025/26 an estimated 32,280 potholes were repaired through a combination of reactive maintenance and spray injection patching. Alongside this, there was a continued focus on preventative measures to help extend the life of the county's roads, reduce the need for more extensive repairs in the future and keep roads safer and more reliable.
The report also highlights that the county's A, B and C roads have remained broadly stable over recent years, despite the challenges of increasing traffic levels, ageing infrastructure and more frequent extreme weather events, reflecting the benefits of ongoing investment and targeted improvement programmes.
Highways maintenance investment in West Sussex is projected to increase to £79.2 million during 2026/27, supported by funding from both the DfT and WSCC. This will enable a significant programme of highway improvements, including 75 resurfacing projects, 30 road repair schemes and a range of treatments designed to protect and extend the life of roads across the county. In total, more than 144 miles of road will benefit from maintenance and improvement work during 2026/27.
Councillor Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, WSCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "West Sussex's highway network is one of the council's most important assets, connecting communities, supporting businesses and helping residents get where they need to go every day.
"Maintaining more than 2,500 miles of roads, alongside thousands of other highway assets, is a significant undertaking. I'm proud of the work our highways teams carry out year-round to keep the network safe, resilient and reliable for everyone who uses it.
"The report shows that, despite increasing pressures on our roads, we are continuing to focus on preventative treatments and targeted repairs to make the best use of available funding.
"By planning ahead and carrying out the right work at the right time, we're helping to protect the condition of our roads and deliver improvements that will benefit residents, businesses and visitors across West Sussex."
