Kimmins praises road crews as 10,000 defects repaired in just eight weeks

Minister Liz Kimmins is pictured with some of the DFI’s road crews who have made 10,000 repairs to the road network over the last eight weeks.

Road crews across Northern Ireland have completed 10,000 repairs in just eight weeks, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has revealed, as efforts intensify to tackle widespread road damage following severe winter weather.

The scale of the work comes after what the Minister described as “well documented” deterioration across the road network earlier this year, driven by prolonged periods of adverse weather that left many routes riddled with potholes and structural damage.

Winter recovery fund targets worst-hit areas

Kimmins said the rapid progress follows her decision to establish a dedicated Winter Recovery Road Fund, aimed specifically at addressing the most severely affected parts of the network.

Praising the response from road crews, she said:

“The damage caused to our roads by prolonged bad weather at the beginning of the year is well documented and I established the Winter Recovery Road Fund to specifically address the areas which were worst affected.

“Following my announcement of additional funding, crews have been out working hard to repair potholes and other road defects and now the figures speak for themselves, with 10,000 repairs completed in eight weeks.”

Impact felt by all road users

Minister Liz Kimmins is pictured with some of the DFI’s road crews who have made 10,000 repairs to the road network over the last eight weeks.

The Minister emphasised that even relatively small repairs can have a significant cumulative effect for those using the network every day.

“We all use our roads and even the smallest repair can have a big impact when it comes to better journeys for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” she added.

Ongoing challenges linked to long-term underfunding

Despite the progress, Kimmins acknowledged that the condition of Northern Ireland’s roads remains under pressure, pointing to long-standing funding issues.

“We are not complacent and there is still much to do because the overall condition of the network has suffered because of years of underfunding by the British Government. However, I am pleased that the money I ringfenced at the beginning of the year for road repairs is making a real and tangible difference across the North.”

New strategy aims to future-proof road network

Alongside immediate repair work, the Department is advancing a draft Road Maintenance Strategy designed to reshape how road upkeep is delivered in the years ahead.

The strategy proposes a more targeted and technology-driven approach, focusing investment where it is most needed while improving the quality and sustainability of maintenance work.

It also aims to future-proof the network by adapting to changing societal needs, including increased active travel, reducing the carbon footprint of road operations, and strengthening resilience against future adverse weather events.

Why potholes worsen during bad weather

The surge in repairs follows a period of conditions known to accelerate road deterioration.

Bad weather allows water to seep into small cracks in the road surface. When temperatures drop, freeze–thaw cycles cause the water to expand, breaking apart the pavement.

Prolonged or heavy rainfall can weaken underlying layers, reducing load-bearing capacity and leading to potholes, rutting and surface deformation.

Flooding further compounds the issue by eroding sub-base materials, damaging embankments and blocking drainage systems, creating longer-term structural problems.

Together, these factors significantly shorten the lifespan of road surfaces and increase maintenance demands.

As repair work continues, the Department’s focus remains on balancing immediate fixes with longer-term resilience, with further interventions expected as part of the wider strategy to stabilise and improve the road network after a challenging start to the year.

---

At a glance

• 10,000 road defects repaired in eight weeks

• Work funded through Winter Recovery Road Fund

• Repairs focused on areas worst affected by winter weather

• Minister says progress is “real and tangible” but more work needed

• Long-term underfunding highlighted as ongoing issue

• New Road Maintenance Strategy aims to modernise and future-proof network

• Adverse weather identified as key driver of pothole formation