Local News · Wiltshire-wide
Four per cent of Wiltshire major roads rated as poor in government assessment
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
New figures from the Department for Transport reveal the current condition of major roads across Wiltshire, highlighting how the county compares to neighbouring areas.
New data published by the Department for Transport has provided an overview of the condition of major roads across Wiltshire, offering a snapshot of infrastructure standards as of March 2026. The report assesses the proportion of locally managed A-roads categorised as being in a poor condition, a status which indicates that sections of the network should be considered for maintenance.
According to the figures, 4 per cent of major roads in Wiltshire were classified as being in poor condition. This proportion sits slightly higher than in neighbouring Swindon, where the reported figure was 2 per cent. When compared to the wider region, Wiltshire's road quality fares better than some other areas; for instance, Oxfordshire reported that 6 per cent of its roads were in a poor state, while the figure for Hampshire stood at 5 per cent.
The assessment categorises road surfaces into three groups: red, which denotes a poor condition where maintenance may be required, amber, suggesting that work might be needed in the near future, and green, where no further work is currently necessary. The data measures the total length of the road network rather than the individual number of roads.
Across England as a whole, 4 per cent of local A-roads were categorised as red in 2026. This national average has remained stable since 2023, though it marks a slight increase from the lower levels recorded between 2016 and 2022. The latest national findings also show that 28 per cent of local A-roads were classed as amber, indicating a slight rise from the 27 per cent reported in 2024. Conversely, the proportion of roads rated as green fell to 68 per cent, down from 70 per cent two years prior.
Local authorities are responsible for conducting regular surveys of the surfaces under their management to determine these ratings. The findings highlight the ongoing challenge faced by councils in balancing infrastructure budgets against the need to address road degradation. While nearly half of the local authorities surveyed across the country reported an increase in the proportion of red-rated A-roads between 2024 and 2026, Wiltshire's current 4 per cent rating aligns it with the national average.
Source: Gazette & Herald · View original