Road inspection and assessment

We are responsible for the maintenance of 1142km of adopted roads, including 90km of principal roads.

Safety and service inspections are undertaken at set intervals to identify faults and repairs are prioritised using a nationally recognised risk-based approach. Factors that will affect the level and speed of response may include:

  • the scale and location of the fault
  • the category of road and its position in the "road hierarchy"
  • the available budget

Mobile surveys

We also assess the condition of roads by using mobile surveys which measure rut depth, surface profile and surface texture.

The information gathered is then used to rate individual locations for comparison against other locations within East Lothian to determine programmed road improvement works.

Reporting issues

Members of the public can also report potholes and other road defects quickly and easily online. When an issue is submitted through our reporting platform:

  • it is received directly by our roads team
  • an officer will attend the location to verify the reported issue and, if appropriate, carry out a risk assessment
  • if a fault is identified, it will be given a rating based on its risk assessment. This determines the timescale in which it will be repaired
  • repairs will be carried out in either 24 hours, five working days, 60 working days or as part of our programmed works depending on its priority rating

This is in line with our Policy for Road Inspections

Read our Policy for Road Inspections

Report a pothole or road defect