A MAJOR report this week said it could take up to 11 years to repair the region’s damaged roads.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North-East said their potholed condition remained “a cause for concern”.

Its State of the Nation Infrastructure 2014 report grades the region’s infrastructure on a scale of A to E.

Local transport, strategic transport, flood management and energy were all graded C, meaning they “require attention”.

Waste management and water were rated B, meaning they are “adequate for now”.

The report said the resilience of the North-East’s strategic transport routes had been tested in recent years with adverse weather leaving the region inaccessible.

It also said that while the 2013-14 floods showed the effectiveness of the region’s sea defences.

They also highlighted the increasing exposure to extreme weather.

The region must remain vigilant to the risks of flooding.

Penny Marshall, ICE North- East’s regional director, said: “Infrastructure forms the backbone of our regional economy, sustains our quality of life, and protects people from flooding yet our assessment has shown that some of our vital networks are in need of attention.”

Some progress had been made, but must be built on.

She said: “This includes action to tackle the deterioration in our local roads, continued investment in our rail network to ensure we can maximise the benefits of HS2, and ensuring all our networks are resilient in the face of more frequent extreme weather.

“In 2012, the region saw significant rainfall in a short period of time, which damaged property, disrupted the rail network and impacted multiple communities.

“Interdependencies – or the ‘domino effect’, where the failure of one system can lead to the disruption of others – should be at the forefront of resilience planning to lessen the impact to the wider economy and society.”