About the service
When you report a problem with a bridge or retaining wall, we will assess the severity and assign an inspector. If we are not responsible for the structure, we will pass the report to the appropriate owner. We will make the site safe and respond in accordance with the inspector’s recommendations.
Report a problem on the road
Report repairs needed for fences, walls, roads and footpaths in the Mendip area
Reporting a problem outside of our hours
If you need to report a problem outside of our normal working hours (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm) and you believe it is urgent and a risk to public safety, please phone 0300 123 2224.
What we do
Somerset has nearly 3000 highway bridges and retaining walls – some new, others centuries old. We try to maintain these efficiently with the minimum of disruption.
- Retaining walls supporting the highway (below the level of the highway) are generally our responsibility to maintain.
- Walls retaining land above the highway are normally the responsibility of the adjoining landowner.
- Boundary Walls responsibility for keeping these in good order normally resides with the adjoining landowner.
- Parapet Walls (Edge Protection) on bridges form part of the bridge or wall that supports them, so the responsibility lies with the owner of the rest of the structure.
We carry out inspections of sustaining walls approximately every 2 years and prioritise the works arising for routine maintenance.
We are also responsible for fences on the highway, for example, post and rail fencing separating a footway and ditch. Boundary fences adjacent to the highway are usually part of a private property boundary. To discuss any issue with walls or fences please contact us.
Inspecting bridges
We inspect bridges about every two years and plan maintenance work based on their condition. We investigate damage caused by vehicle collisions, severe weather and other incidents as soon as possible.
If a vehicle damages a bridge or culvert, reporting the vehicle details can help us recover the repair costs from those responsible.
Somerset has 53 listed bridges, including 17 scheduled monuments.
These historic structures need specialist maintenance. Before carrying out any work, we consult the relevant authorities and obtain the necessary approvals.
Assessing and strengthening bridges
As well as routine bridge maintenance, we assess how much weight bridges can safely carry. This long-term government-funded programme is the largest bridge assessment exercise ever carried out in the United Kingdom.
The assessments began in the early 1990s. They followed plans to increase the maximum weight of lorries from 38 tonnes to 40 tonnes, which came into effect in 1999. The programme includes around 1,400 road bridges across Somerset with a span of more than 1.5 metres.
When an assessment identifies a bridge that cannot safely carry the required loads, we usually strengthen it. In some cases, we replace bridges that are very weak or in poor condition. Where appropriate, we introduce weight restrictions to keep road users safe.
We have carefully prioritised Somerset’s bridge strengthening programme. We strengthened the weakest bridges on main routes first, where traffic levels are highest. We also continue work on local roads. This is important in a rural county, where agricultural vehicles often use the road network.
Non highway bridge and structure problems
Non-highway bridge and structure problems should be reported to the following organisations:
Bridges over streams in Exmoor National Park, please report to Exmoor National Park