Defect investigatory levels
This section of the policy sets out the investigatory levels and operational processes that are considered to be appropriate for defect identification and repair, taking into account the safety of highway users.
Investigatory levels represent a limit below which an asset is normally considered to be satisfactory or above which the asset is judged to require an investigation for potential action. It should be noted that occasionally a defect below the investigatory level may actually be investigated and repaired. This will occur when the highway inspector’s assessment is that the defect may deteriorate further and become a hazard to users of the highway before the time of the street’s next scheduled inspection.
Listed below in table 4 are the defect investigatory levels for footways and carriageways.
Table 4: Defect investigatory levels for footways and carriageways.
| Footway Investigatory level | 20mm or above |
|---|---|
| Carriageway Investigatory level | 40mm or above |
| Carriageway investigatory level at pedestrian crossing points | 20mm or above |
| Carriageway investigatory level at designated segregated cycle lanes. | 25mm or above |
| Kerb defects investigatory level | 50mm or above- vertical/horizontal displacement or 25mm gap where kerbs are level |
It should be noted that, in addition to footway trips and carriageway potholes, there are numerous other highway defects which could be identified during an inspection and would also be classed as an actionable defect. Examples might be missing or loose ironwork, standing water, rocking flagstones etc