More than 34 miles of Rotherham’s roads will be maintained and repaired in the next year thanks to the first phase of a £16m investment in the borough’s highways by Rotherham Council.
The investment in Rotherham’s roads is the latest example of the Council’s wider commitment to building a better, fairer borough for residents and a more inclusive economy. Millions have already been committed to improving Rotherham’s public spaces, schools, high streets and communities, alongside building more council homes and investing in the town centre.
On 16 December, the Council’s Cabinet approved the Indicative Highway Repair Programme for 2024/25. Part of the four-year Rotherham Roads Programme, it is set to deliver repairs across 235 maintenance schemes, equating to 34.6 miles of roads and 5.6 miles of footways.
It’s thanks to investment agreed back in March, when Cabinet committed a further £12m to improve Rotherham’s roads over the next four years, adding to £4m received from the Government’s Network North programme.
Since the funding was agreed, 14 miles of roads have already been maintained and repaired. Over 8000 potholes were also repaired in the first six months of the year – with fewer potholes reported by residents.
Previous investment in Rotherham’s roads – including £24m over four years which came to an end earlier this year – had already made significant improvements to the borough’s highway network. The extra £16m funding ensures this momentum continues, further improving road safety and the quality of infrastructure across the borough.
In total, the Council is responsible for 740 miles of roads, 1300 miles of footways, footpaths and public rights of way, and associated street lighting, road markings, road signs, safety barriers, traffic management systems, drainage systems and bridges.
Cllr Robert Taylor, Cabinet member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy said: “Rotherham Council is committed to providing good quality roads and footways to help keep the people who use them safe. We share residents’ views that our roads are a priority, and we will continue to invest in them.
“The roads and footways are surveyed and inspected regularly, and this allows us to keep the network safe and in a good condition. A range of innovative surface treatments and materials are used to provide cost effective solutions and provide value for money for residents. Customer satisfaction is positive, and a falling number of complaints also suggests that our roads investment is working.”