Minister seeks further funding to repair roads damaged by severe winter weather

Police in Antrim & Newtownabbey issued a warning to drivers on Monday (2nd February) after receiving reports of a large pothole on Tully Road, towards Antrim, that caused damage to a number of vehicles

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is working to secure an additional funding package to address widespread damage to roads caused by recent severe weather, adding to the £30 million already announced before Christmas.

The move follows weeks of disruptive conditions across Northern Ireland, including snow, prolonged cold spells, record rainfall and flooding, all of which have taken a visible toll on road surfaces.

Motorists and residents across the region have reported a sharp increase in potholes and surface defects, raising concerns about vehicle damage and road safety.

Confirming the latest action, Minister Kimmins said she has instructed officials to urgently identify what further measures can be delivered to repair the network and mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.

“I am all too aware of the impact the recent storm and cold weather has had across the road network and it is an issue I am taking very seriously,” the Minister said.

“I have asked my officials to look at what can be urgently delivered through a package of measures specifically to tackle the impacts of recent severe weather conditions on our roads.”

Extreme weather taking its toll

The Minister highlighted how increasingly volatile weather patterns are placing additional strain on already stretched infrastructure. January alone saw a succession of extremes, from freezing temperatures and snowfall to record-breaking rainfall.

“Changing weather patterns are bringing heavier rainfall and an increase in flooding and flood risk,” she said.

“In January alone we have seen the extremes – beginning with below average temperatures which resulted in snow, record rainfall and this week Storm Chandra which contributed to new January rainfall records for the North.”

Road users in both urban and rural areas have described the cumulative effects of these conditions, with potholes opening rapidly and existing defects worsening, sometimes within days.

Commitment to maintenance

Despite the scale of the challenge, the Minister said her department remains committed to improving road maintenance standards.

The £30 million funding package announced before Christmas is already in progress, with further details of an additional package expected shortly.

“Despite this, my department is committed to raising the standard of maintenance across the network,” she said.

“I announced a £30m package before Christmas and hope to announce the detail of a further package of measures in the coming days.”

Public urged to report defects

In the meantime, road users are being encouraged to report potholes and surface defects to help maintenance teams prioritise the most serious hazards.

“I would encourage road users to continue to report of potholes and surface defects via the online portal,” Minister Kimmins added.

“Maintenance staff will continue to inspect and make-safe defects by working to address the highest priority defects as fast as possible, in accordance with our policy to ensure the safety of the travelling public.”

Potholes and road defects can be reported online via NI Direct:

Report a pothole