Most Irish roads have some surface or structural damage

Large stretches of the country’s roads have significant defects, the first national survey of local and regional routes shows.

Most of the damage is to road surfaces with almost three quarters of all roads displaying some degree of erosion, shallow cracking, or impaired grip for drivers.

But structural distress — mainly deep cracks, potholes and disintegration — is evident on almost a third of tertiary roads, the most minor public roads.