Keeping North East Lincolnshire’s roads moving: new campaign puts residents in the picture

This October, we are launching ‘NEL Roads: Prevention and Repair’, a new campaign to keep you more informed about how we look after roads and pavements across North East Lincolnshire.

From repairing potholes and maintaining roads to preparing for freezing temperatures, the campaign will explain what our teams are doing, why the work is needed and how residents can report problems in their area.

As we head into autumn and winter, our teams will also be keeping a close eye on the weather and responding to the challenges it can bring.

Last winter was particularly tough on roads. Heavy rain followed by short, sharp periods of freezing temperatures created conditions that can cause road surfaces to deteriorate.

Water can get into small cracks in the road surface. When temperatures drop, that water can freeze and expand, making the damage worse and causing potholes to form.

North East Lincolnshire was not alone in facing these challenges, this happened right across the UK.. Between November 2025 and March 2026, 1954 defects were reported locally on our roads and pavements.

Once a reported pothole has been inspected, it is assessed and prioritised for repair, with timescales ranging from 24 hours to three months.

Our highways teams have continued working across the borough to tackle these problems. Between January and July 2026, they repaired 2522 defects on our roads and pavements.

Looking after our roads is not just about filling potholes when they appear.

Throughout the year, our teams carry out planned maintenance and are exploring different repair methods and materials that could help protect road surfaces, extend their life and prevent problems developing in the first place.

Cllr Paul Batson, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “We know the condition of our roads matters to our communities. People rely on them every day to get to work, take children to school, visit family and friends and travel around our borough.

“Last winter created difficult conditions for roads, but our teams have continued working hard to repair damage and make the best use of the funding available.

“We also want to focus on prevention. That means looking at how we can protect our roads, exploring different materials and repair methods, and carrying out planned maintenance where we can.

“Through NEL Roads: Prevention and Repair, we want to make it easier for residents to understand the work taking place in their communities, how decisions are made and how they can report a problem to us.”

Over the coming weeks, residents will be able to follow NEL Roads: Prevention and Repair for a closer look at the work happening across North East Lincolnshire.

We’ll be sharing updates and information about:

• potholes, including how they are assessed and repaired;
• road maintenance and work taking place across the borough;
• new machinery and materials being trialled to help repair and protect our roads
• gritting and winter maintenance, including how we prepare for colder weather
• how residents can report road and footpath problems

We’ll be getting out and about with our highway's teams too, showing residents the work that goes on behind the scenes to maintain North East Lincolnshire’s road network and prepare it for the months ahead.

Keep an eye on our social media channels for the latest NEL Roads: Prevention and Repair updates.