Moray Council sets out priorities for roads maintenance as roads ranked fifth best in Scotland
Moray Council has outlined its priorities for maintaining and improving the area’s road network, confirming how funds will be allocated in 2026/27 and highlighting the latest condition of local roads.
The council’s road network - valued at almost £1.7 billion - is its single largest asset and covers more than 1,560 km of roads. The Roads Maintenance Revenue and Capital Budget report sets out how the council will use its £9.5 million combined roads maintenance budget for the year ahead.
This includes capital funding focussing on long-term improvements that protect the structural integrity of the network. Planned investment includes resurfacing, reconstruction and surface dressing; drainage and other essential works; footways; kerb and edge replacements; and replacing ageing streetlighting columns.
A number of named capital schemes will also progress, including major repairs to North Street, Buckie, and the B9106 Braes of Enzie, as well as landslip related works.
One of the most significant projects for next year will be resurfacing on the A941 at the Mart and Laich Moray roundabouts in Elgin.
Day-to-day maintenance to keep the network safe and usable will include patching and repairs; gully cleaning; grass cutting; and maintenance of its 19,191 street lights. Winter maintenance, which varies significantly each year, also forms a major part of annual expenditure.
A separate report confirms that Moray continues to perform strongly in national comparisons. The council is currently ranked fifth best in Scotland for overall road condition.
The latest Road Condition Indicator (RCI) shows:
- Improvements in A, B and C class roads compared to the previous year
- Deterioration in unclassified roads, which make up nearly half of Moray’s network and have a disproportionate impact on the overall RCI
- A small overall increase of 0.5% in the RCI figure, indicating slight deterioration across the network
The reports highlight growing pressures on budgets as the road network expands and inflation raises costs. Increasing instances of landslips linked to extreme rainfall also pose a challenge, requiring specialist and costly repairs.
Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “Moray’s roads are one of our most important public assets and maintaining them to a safe and reliable standard is essential for residents, businesses and visitors. Despite ongoing financial pressures, we continue to perform strongly in national comparisons and remain committed to using every pound wisely through our evidence based asset management approach.
“The programme for 2026/27 focuses on the areas where investment will make the biggest long-term difference, while ensuring we can continue to keep the network safe through day-to-day maintenance. We are being honest about the challenges, but we are determined to protect our important infrastructure for the people of Moray”.