The assets we maintain
Cumberland Council is responsible for maintaining:
- 3,741km of roads
- 1,929km of footways
- 675km of cycleways
- 1670km of public rights of way managed directly and 1397km managed by Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA)
We also maintain:
- 830 bridges
- 352 culverts plus retaining walls, cattle grids and sea defences
- 71,298 gullies
- 27,712 street lighting columns
- 2,257 illuminated signs
- 62 traffic signals
- 71 pedestrian crossings
Challenges and opportunities
Effective management of Cumberland's highway network is essential but presents both challenges and opportunities.
Key challenges include:
- an ageing highway network that needs ongoing maintenance and investment
- high expectations for road condition, safety and service quality
- more frequent extreme weather events linked to climate change
- higher maintenance costs when roads deteriorate and require reactive repairs, such as pothole filling or major reconstruction work
Understanding the condition of our highway assets helps us:
- monitor performance
- identify signs of deterioration
- plan maintenance at the right time
- make the best use of available funding
A planned approach helps prevent problems from getting worse and reduces the need for costly reactive repairs.
We use a road hierarchy based on how roads are used and local needs, rather than traditional road classifications alone.
This approach helps us:
- prioritise investment
- target resources where they will have the greatest benefit
- support the Resilient Road Network
We have a 30-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with Connect CNDR Limited, ending in July 2039. Under this agreement, Connect manages and maintains part of the council's A road network.