We maintain over 4,500 km of footways and shared cycleways across Lincolnshire. Our approach follows national asset management principles and focuses on keeping the network safe, accessible, and in good condition for pedestrians and cyclists.
We use a combination of preventative treatments, localised repairs, and full reconstruction. Choosing the right treatment at the right time helps us get the best value from public funds and reduces disruption
There are four footway hierarchies in Lincolnshire:
- Hierarchy 1 - footways in main shopping streets and pedestrianised shopping areas in town centres
- Hierarchy 2 - footways on main pedestrian routes just outside town centres, link footways to car parks, and local shopping streets with 10+ shops within 100m
- Hierarchy 3 - footways linking local access routes through urban areas and busy rural footways
- Hierarchy 4 - low-usage footways such as estate roads, cul-de-sacs, and rural paths between villages
This hierarchy system ensures that the busiest and highest-risk footways receive the most frequent inspections and the quickest response to defects.
Routine inspections
We carry out safety and service inspections on every footway & shared cycleway at least once a year. Inspection frequencies are directly linked to the hierarchy, ensuring that well-used footways are inspected more regularly.
Inspection frequencies by hierarchy
- Hierarchy MRN/1 - 12 times per year
- Hierarchy 2 - 4 times per year
- Hierarchy 3 includes Hierachy 4 slabbed/modular - 4 times per year
- Hierarchy 4 ,5 & 6 - Once per year
This combined approach ensures that inspection resources are focused where they have the greatest impact on safety, accessibility, and liability management.
How we decide which footways to treat
Our footway programme is planned using a structured asset management approach. This ensures we prioritise the right locations and use resources effectively.
Our strategy includes:
- Footway condition surveys - regular Footway Network Surveys (FNS) help us understand condition and identify emerging issues
- Prioritising safety and liability - flagged footways (raised or uneven slabs) and high amenity footways are prioritised because they present the highest risk to pedestrians
- Preventative maintenance first - we aim to maintain the network in a steady state by treating footways before they deteriorate, this approach is significantly more cost-effective than waiting for a footway to fail.
- Reactive maintenance - In addition to planned inspections, we also carry out reactive maintenance when defects are identified on the network.
- Repairs are prioritised and scheduled when defects meet our intervention criteria, which are designed to ensure public safety and manage risk effectively.
If you notice a problem on a footway, such as uneven slabs, trip hazards, or surface damage, please report it through FixMyStreet so our highway inspectors can assess it.
Routine maintenance
We treat any weeds that are present:
- on footways and cycle tracks
- in kerb channels (including outlet mouths and gully gratings)
- around all obstructions, street furniture, tree bases, traffic islands
- on the back edge of the footway joining walls
- on all areas of block paved carriageways that are part of the adopted highway
This treatment is carried out to limit the growth of weeds in paved areas where they may otherwise cause structural damage. It is not carried out for aesthetic reasons, as can be the case with open spaces.
We use environmentally friendly but effective herbicides to control weeds. The use of chemical herbicides is carefully controlled by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Within the highway, we can only use non-residual weed killers such as Glyphosate. It has a low toxicity to humans, animals and insects and can be used on areas open to the public and their pets.
We apply the herbicide by a controlled droplet application with the equipment, ensuring drift does not occur. It is not blanket sprayed over footway areas as the herbicide is only effective when in direct contact with the weeds - on contact with hard surfaces/soil, it breaks down into harmless substances.
Because of this, we don’t spray in areas with no weed growth and ensure that any adjoining grassy areas are not sprayed. This process ensures the amount of chemical used is limited to an absolute minimum. Once the solution has been sprayed, it will take approximately 2-3 weeks to take effect on weeds and their roots.
Treatments start after the emergence of the ‘spring weed flush’ (when weeds begin to grow and before they get the chance to seed). We monitor the forecast as rain within 6 hours of treatment can weaken the solution, reducing its effectiveness.
Similarly, spraying during high winds will reduce the chemical that comes into contact with the weed. Therefore, the date can vary due to the weather, but treatments generally start in mid-April or early May and are completed by the end of September, to spread to adjacent land.
View our weed treatment programme.
Planned maintenance
Preventative surface treatment: Micro-asphalt (with preparatory patching where required)
Micro-asphalt is a preventative surface treatment used to seal and protect footways before significant deterioration occurs. It is a cold-applied bitumen emulsion that:
- seals the surface to prevent water ingress
- restores texture and appearance
- provides a uniform walking surface
- extends the life of the footway and reduces future maintenance needs
Micro-asphalt is quick, cost effective process and can usually be walked on soon after laying, keeping disruption to a minimum.
Where structural defects exist
Before micro-asphalt can be applied, the footway must be structurally sound. If inspections identify deeper defects in the underlying layers, we carry out localised patching in advance of the micro-asphalt treatment.
Patching involves:
- removing the failed material
- reinstating one or more bituminous layers
- restoring the structural strength of the footway
These patches may be completed several months to a year before the micro-asphalt is laid.
Footway reconstruction
Reconstruction is used when a footway has widespread structural failure and requires deeper intervention. This involves replacing a substantial depth of the bituminous layers and is typically reserved for locations where preventative treatments are no longer suitable.
Reconstruction is more disruptive and usually requires a road closure to carry out the works safely.
As part of our asset management approach, we prioritise reconstruction where it delivers the greatest safety benefit:
- Flagged footways - those with raised or uneven slabs, represent the highest liability risk to pedestrians, and where these defects are widespread or severe, reconstruction may be required to restore a safe and accessible surface.
- High Amenity areas that generate greater footfall - including near schools, shopping areas, care facilities and community buildings.
This ensures that our investment is targeted where it reduces risk most effectively.
Use of recycled materials
Where possible, we use recycled materials produced in Lincolnshire from reclaimed asphalt. This reduces carbon emissions by avoiding the need for new materials and long-distance transport, while keeping valuable resources in use for longer as part of a circular economy.
By re-processing excavated material from other highway schemes into new construction layers, we minimise waste and support local manufacturing.
Using recycled products such as foam-base bitumen allows us to deliver reconstruction schemes more sustainably and with a lower environmental impact.
You can view our latest highways programme for details of current schemes, planned dates and updates.