Plans for 2026/27
Making the most of the funding available
We are taking a focused, risk-based approach to maintaining East Sussex’s roads, prioritising the areas where investment will have the greatest impact on safety, travel and the local economy.
This means targeting our busiest and most important routes, including A and B roads and key local routes that form our resilient network. These are essential for emergency services, public transport and keeping people and businesses moving.
For quieter, less-used roads (such as many rural or residential streets), we use cost-effective maintenance methods and carry out repairs as needed to keep them safe and serviceable.
This approach ensures we make the best use of available funding while continuing to maintain a safe and reliable road network across East Sussex, in line with our Local Transport Plan.
Plans for 2026/27
In 2026/27, we will balance our investment between preventative maintenance—such as surface dressing and patching, which extend the life of roads—and more extensive work to rebuild key routes and structures where greater intervention is needed.
We have a strong focus on preventative maintenance, as it allows us to treat more roads and reduce long-term costs. However, we also recognise the importance of targeted structural repairs on roads and bridges in poorer condition, where more significant work is required.
Together, this approach ensures we are maintaining as much of the network as possible while also improving those areas that need more substantial intervention. All work is prioritised using a risk-based approach, focusing on where it will have the greatest impact on safety and help prevent further deterioration.
View the full programme, including road and structure works on the East Sussex Highways Schemes webpage.
Potholes and safety repairs
We continue to keep roads and pavements safe through reactive maintenance—fixing issues as they arise.
This includes repairing potholes, addressing any defects that are considered to be dangerous and responding quickly to urgent problems reported by residents or identified through inspections.
