Examples of highways emergencies / faults that may pose a danger to the public include:
- Manholes or grates that are missing
- Traffic signalled junctions or crossing, all lights out, damaged street lights, traffic signals, lit bollards and lit signs where wires are exposed
- Debris, including mud, stones or oil on the road
- Fallen tree or branch blocking part or all the road or path
- Extensive flooding resulting in road being impassable
- Large dead animals - eg cattle / deer / horse causing obstruction
- Overhead cables fallen across the highway
- Potholes - only deep potholes on busy A roads and main distributor roads that cause a danger to the public will be treated as an emergency
- Road signs, safety fences, guardrails and other street furniture damaged so they are a direct danger or obstruction to the travelling public, for example if it's bent into the path of vehicles
- Structure collapse - eg bridge / culvert / wall / fences / scaffold / hoarding
How to report a highways emergency
To report a highways emergency that poses an immediate danger to the public, please call either:
- Cambridgeshire Highways on 0345 045 5212 (during office hours - 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
- Police on 101 (outside of these hours)
If the highways emergency is on a trunk road, please call National Highways (formerly Highways England) on 0300 123 5000 or the police on 101. The trunk roads in Cambridgeshire are the M11, A1, A11, A14, A47 and A428.
When you call, we will need to know:
- A description of the emergency (size or extent of problem, when it happened and the current situation)
- The location (eg outside house number, road name, town name, or a road number and description)
- Your name and telephone number so we can contact you if we need more information
Please keep safe when reporting a highways emergency. Do not put yourself at risk to gather information.
If you don't think the highways fault is dangerous, please report it online using our Highways Reporting Tool. Reports made online are assessed by a Local Highways Officer within 10 working days.
