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Potholes are back in the spotlight - But are we asking the right questions?
06 January 2026
Paul Thompson
Technical Specification Manager
Potholes are once again dominating the national conversation.
In a BBC News article published today, the scale of the UK’s pothole problem is laid bare. The report highlights the growing number of road defects, the impact on motorists and the increasing strain placed on already stretched local authority budgets.
It’s a familiar story. Roads deteriorate, potholes appear, repairs are carried out, and the cycle repeats.
But what if we’re focusing too heavily on the symptom and not enough on the cause?
Potholes are often blamed on weather extremes and traffic volumes, but the reality is more complex. While freeze-thaw cycles and heavy vehicles accelerate deterioration, potholes tend to form where structural weaknesses already exist within the road. One of the most common and consistently overlooked weak points is highway ironwork. Manhole covers and gully gratings are installed within the carriageway and are subjected to constant loading, vibration and movement. When ironwork is poorly specified, inadequately supported or incorrectly installed, the materials surrounding it begin to fail long before the rest of the road structure. A WRc report shows that break-up of the paved surround is a major cause of ironwork failure, creating cracks and depressions that quickly develop into potholes under traffic. Each time ironwork is repaired, replaced or reinstalled, the surrounding carriageway is disturbed. Research shows that opening a road to create a trench can significantly reduce its structural life, increasing the likelihood of future surface failure. Over time, repeated interventions weaken the road further, making the same locations more prone to pothole formation. Potholes, therefore, are not simply surface defects. They are often the visible symptom of deeper installation and workmanship issues around ironwork that have been left unresolved. Until those root causes are addressed, potholes will continue to reappear in the same places, no matter how many times the surface is repaired. Top blogsThe hidden role ironwork plays in pothole formationDid you know? A WRc Street Ironwork Report surveyed 220 manhole covers and found that 44% had failed due to break-up of the paved surround. In other words, almost half of the failures were directly linked to the materials and workmanship around ironwork. The ALARM survey reinforces this issue, warning that opening a road to create a trench can reduce its structural life by up to 30%. Every time ironwork is repaired, replaced or reinstalled, the surrounding road structure is weakened, increasing the likelihood of future surface failure. When these findings are considered together, it becomes clear that poor ironwork installation is one of the most overlooked contributors to the UK’s pothole problem. Why correct ironwork installation mattersWhen ironwork isn’t specified and installed correctly, the surround often deteriorates long before the rest of the carriageway. Poor bedding materials, inadequate chamber top preparation and substandard installation practices all create weak points in the road. These weak points quickly develop into cracks and depressions, which then become potholes under repeated traffic loading. This creates a cycle of failure. Repeated repairs weaken the road further, budgets are drained by short-term fixes, and road users face ongoing disruption. The issue isn’t that potholes are inevitable. It’s that the root cause is too often left unaddressed. 
Potholes: More than a surface issuePOTHOLES - MORE THAN A SURFACE ISSUEHelping to find solutions to the UK's pothole problemPotholes across the UK’s road and highway network are a real problem. But did you know ironwork specification and selection can affect and even increase the likelihood of a pothole forming? Our new report explores;
Listen to the PodcastTune in! We've recently united forces with IKO, the minds behind Pacopatch and Public Sector Executive on this crucial conversation in the PSE Podcast. We explore innovative, modern, long-term solutions to revolutionise the UK's road network. Together we're empowering local authorities to deliver safer, smoother roads for every UK road user at a lower whole-life cost. Join us as we pave the way to a better future on the road. 
You can listen to episode 62, "Changing mindsets" of the Public Sector Executive podcast on all good podcast apps by searching for Public Sector Executive Podcast or online by clicking below: |
