On the Road to Recovery - responding to failed roads in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Highways, 31 July 2025 - Road repairs and improvements

We know that our county’s roads remain a very popular topic for those who live and travel into Buckinghamshire. Ongoing pressures such as global inflation, extreme weather and the sustained impact of heavy construction traffic linked to HS2 and East West Rail (EWR) projects contribute to the condition of our roads. This is why it is essential for Buckinghamshire Highways to continue to strategically invest into our roads and prioritise the safety of our road users. We've answered some of the most popular questions about failed roads including the treatment of failed roads and addressed some common misconceptions below.

Failed Road Surface - Arncott Rd, Boarstall

Failed Road Surface - Panshill, Boarstall

Condition of local roads

Road condition data for all local authority classified roads, is currently collected using Surface Condition Assessment for the National Network of Roads (SCANNER) machine surveys, employing laser-based technology.

A number of parameters measured in these surveys are used to produce a road condition indicator which is categorised into three condition categories:

  • green – no further investigation or treatment required
  • amber – maintenance may be required soon
  • red – should be considered for maintenance

In 2024/25, Buckinghamshire’s A roads were recorded in the following categories; 3.8% in red, 28.1% in amber and 68.2% in green. Buckinghamshire’s B and C roads were recorded as; 5.2% in red, 27.9% in amber and 66.9% in green.

Benchmarking against neighbouring and comparable authorities shows that Buckinghamshire faces similar challenges and maintains a road network in broadly comparable condition. While recent pressures have constrained short-term progress, our strategic investment approach has delivered measurable long-term benefits.

From 2026/27 a new standard of inspection methodology will categorise roads into 5 categories instead of 3 (red, amber and green), to help the government gain a more detailed understanding of road conditions in England.